Germany Wine Regions and their Wines Sachsen Mittelrhein Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Rheingau Pfalz Nahe Rheinhessen Franken Germany Wineries
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Germany
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Germany Wine Regions and their Wines Sachsen Mittelrhein Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Rheingau Pfalz Nahe Rheinhessen Franken Germany Wineries
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Ahr
The Red wine-region Ahr is one of the smallest of Germany's wine- growing regions, with vineyards extending along the steep hill- sides that line the Ahr River as it flows into the Rhine south of Bonn. Most of the vineyards grow red grapes - Spatburgunder (Pinot noir) and Portugieser - producing red wines of light charm and racy fruitiness. Lively, fresh Riesling and Miiller-Thurgau are the white wines grown here. Nearly all of the region's wine is consumed locally. Wine: velvety to fiery Spatburgunder; light, pleasant Portugieser; racy,
fresh white wines. UP Hessische Bergstrasse The wine-growing region Hessische Bergstrasse is located north of Heidelberg, bordered by the Rhine on the west and the Odenwald (forest) on the east. The wines tend to be fragrant and rich, with more body and a little less acidity and finesse than those of the Rheingau. The Riesling is the main grape variety, followed by the fragrant Muller-Thurgau and delicate Silvaner. The wines from the Bergstrasse are scarce and almost without exception consumed locally - a good reason to attend one of the local wine festivals in the medieval town of Heppenheim (late June) or Bensheim (early September). Wine: fragrant, refreshing fruity acidity, hearty.
UP Wurttemberg Region Wurttemberg's vineyards line the slopes of the Neckar River and its tributaries. Stuttgart is its major city. With nearly half of its vineyards planted in red varieties, it is the largest red wine region in Germany. Trollinger, Mullerrebe (Pinot meunier), Spatburgunder (Pinot noir), Portugieser and Lemberger make very fruity red wines. Wurttemberg's white wines - Riesling, Miiller-Thurgau, Kerner and Silvaner - have a vigorous, hearty taste. Wiirttemberg wines can rarely be found outside this region, as the majority are consumed by the indigenous population. Wine: strikingly fruity, hearty, powerful, distinctive earthy finish.
UP Saale/Unstrut Region The small wine-growing region Saale/Unstrut is the northernmost of Germany's wine-growing regions, with a long tradition of grape-growing and wine making. The first American rootstocks in Germany were planted in the region in 1887 after the Phylloxera disease affected vineyards there. Vines are planted at the beginning of the romantic Saale River valley and on the hills near the town of Freyburg. In the warm valley of the rivers Saale and Unstrut Miiller-Thurgau, Silvaner and WeiRburgunder (Pinot Blanc) grapes are grown and made into a soft, dry white wine. Due to climatic conditions Spatlese and Auslese wines are very rare, but QBA and Kabinett wines are excellent when they are young. Wine: soft and dry white wines, few Spatlese and Auslese wines, medium-
bodied.
UP Sachsen Region B>Sachsen Sachsen is the easternmost of Gemany's wine-growing regions, with most of its vineyards located on the hilly slopes of the Elbe River. The region stretches for about 30 miles from Pillnitz in the south to Dresden, Radebeul and Meissen. The cultural and historical centres of Dresden and Meissen attract many visitors each year. Most of the wines from the region are consumed locally. Wines made from Muller-Thurgau (Rivaner), Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Traminer grapes are dry, full of character with a fruity acidity. Some soft red wines and some ,,Elbtal-Sekt" (sparkling wine) are spe- cialities of the region. Wine: dry, refreshing fruity acidity, special regional character.
UP Mittelrhein Region Beginning just below Bonn and extending about 60 miles south on both banks of the Rhine, the Mittelrhein is a beautiful region of steep, terraced vineyards crowned with medieval castles and ruins. Bacharach has been the most important wine village of this region since the Middle Ages. The clayish slate soil yields lively wines with a pronounced acidity. Riesling, Miiller-Thurgau and Kerner grow best on these inhospitable slopes Most of the production is consumed locally or sold to visitors. Wine: fresh, fragrant, pithy, marked fruity acidity (sometimes austere).
UP Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Region From just south of the ancient Roman city of Trier, north to Koblenz, where
it empties into the Rhine, the Mosel River snakes its way past dramatically
steep, slaty slopes covered with some of Germany's most famous vineyards. The
wines of the Mosel and its tributaries, the Saar and the Ruwer, are richly
fragrant, pale in colour, light-bodied with a lively, fruity acidity. The slaty
soil imparts a distinctive taste to Mosel wines, ranging from fine-fruity to
earthy, or flinty. Often they have a hint of effervescence.
UP Rheingau Region The Rheingau is Germany's most central wine-growing region and the home of some of the world's oldest wine-growing families. It is located between Hochheim on the Main River and Lorch near the Mittelrhein. The whole of the Rheingau is one long hillside topped by the thick forests of the Taunus Hills to the north and bordered by the Rhine River to the south, forming one district, Bereich Johannisberg. This is where the famous cloisters and estates cultivated and refined the noble Riesling. It was the Rheingauers who first recognised the value of Botrytis Cinerea (noble rot) and the Spatlese (late harvest). The term "Kabinett" is said to have originated here. In this favourable climate and ideal soil the Riesling develops to perfection, producing noble, elegant wines characterised by a refined and sometimes spicy fragrance; a fruity, pronounced acidity; and a rich ripeness in flavour. Full-bodied, distinctive red wine is made from the Spatburgunder (Pinot noir), particularly from the steep vineyards around Assmannshausen. Wine: refined fragrance, lively racy acidity, great character and elegance.
UP Pfalz Region Bordered by Rheinhessen on the north and France on the south and west, the Pfalz's vineyards sweep across this pretty, peaceful land for nearly 50 uninterrupted miles and produce more wine than any other region in Germany. The northern half of this region is home to some of the best vineyard sites. The villages of Wachenheim, Forst, Deidesheim and Ruppertsberg are well-known for Riesling wines which combine substance and finesse. Pleasant, mild wines rich in bouquet and full of body from Miiller-Thurgau, Kerner, Silvaner and Morio- Muskat grapes are also grown in the clay and marl soils of this district. Chalk, clay and loess soils yield mild, fresh, often intense wines in the southern half of the Pfalz. In addition to its white wine, the Pfalz is also known for smooth, fruity red wine made primarily from the Portugieser grape. The word Pfalz which names the region is a derivation of Palast, or palace,
and comes from the Latin word "palatium". The English equivalent, Palatinate, is
often used when speaking about the Pfalz. Wine: aromatic, mild, round and full
bodied, expressive.
UP Nahe Region The Nahe region is set west of Rheinhessen, which it borders, and east of the Mosel. Bad Kreuznach is the region's most important town. The Nahe's vineyards thrive in a variety of soils along the steep slopes of the Nahe River and its tributaries. The more northerly district with its loam and sandy soil produces wines that resemble neighbouring Rheinhessen, while the slaty soil further south yields wines which suggest the fine flowery bouquet of Mosel wines and the elegance of Rheingau wines. Miiller-Thurgau, Riesling and Silvaner are the predominant varieties planted in the Nahe region. Wine: fragrant, subtly racy, fruity, full of flavour.
UP Rheinhessen Region Rheinhessen lies in a valley of rolling hills, bordered on the west by the Nahe River and on the north and east by the Rhine. This 20 by 30 mile area between the wine-growing communities of Worms, Alzey, Mainz and Bingen is the largest of the German wine-growing regions and its production is second only to that of the Pfalz. Due to the varying soil types and micro-climates, many grape varieties are planted, including the three traditional white varieties - Miiller- Thurgau, Silvaner, Riesling - as well as new crossings. The Portugieser grape is the most important red variety, and the area around Ingelheim is known for its noble full-bodied Spatburgunder (Pinot noir) wine. The Rheinfront or Rheinterrasse are names given to the vineyards on gentle slopes directly facing the Rhein near the town of Nierstein. Here some of the finest wines in Germany are produced, especially from the Riesling grape. There were already admirers of Rheinhessen's mild, agreeable, fragrant wines
during the Carolingian period. Charlemagne, who had a fortress at Ingelheim, was
one of the earliest promoters of these wines.
UP Franken Region Before the reunification in Germany, Franken was the easternmost of Germany's wine-growing regions, with most of its vineyards planted on hilly slopes of the Main River and its tributaries. Wurzburg is the principal city of Franken and home of the famed vineyard, Stein, which gave rise to the generic term "Steinwein", formerly used to denote all Franken wines. Traditionally, most Franken wines are bottled in a squat, green flagon 'a Bocksbeutel.' Franken wine is the most masculine of Germany's wines, often drier and earthier than wines from other regions. Miiller-Thurgau and Silvaner are the main varieties planted, as well as new crossings. Wine: vigorous, earthy, robust, dry, often full-bodied.
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