The prediction comes from Steffen Schindler, Deutsches Weininstitut’s (German Wine Institute marketing director).

He told Drinks International: “There is unlikely to be any ice wine this year. We are keeping our fingers crossed but it has been so mild and we need every drop of wine after the small 2010 vintage."

Schindler said that based on current weather forecasts he thinks it is unlikely that any ice wine will be produced in Germany this year.

He said he had spoken to Schales Winery in Flörsheim-Dalsheim, in the southern Wonnegau region. It specialises in and is renowned for its dessert wines and has a tradition for producing the ice wines dating back to 1961. They have said that the winery is unlikely to produce any ice wine from the 2011 vintage.