Rheinhessen
The biggest of Germany's wine regions is Rheinhessen. It extends along the left side of the Rhine, situated in Rhineland-Palatinate. The area borders the Rheingau (to its north) and the Nahe (at their east). The two rivers (Rhine and Nahe) as well as the Haardt hills form the natural borders of this esteemed wine region.
The best wines from Rheinhessen
The biggest of Germany's wine regions is Rheinhessen. It extends along the left side of the Rhine, situated in Rhineland-Palatinate. The area borders the Rheingau (to its north) and the Nahe (at their east). The two rivers (Rhine and Nahe) as well as the Haardt hills form the natural borders of this esteemed wine region.
The region predominantly produces white wines, leveraging its varied soils and climate to cultivate both traditional and new grape varieties, notably the ancient Silvaner. The Rhine Terrace (which is between Oppenheim and Nackenheim) is noted for the production of white wine, while Ingelheim is favoured for its reds. Key wineries include Weingut Ernst Bretz, with its historical roots; the Schmitt Family Winery, established in 1672; and the Hauk Family Winery, located in a picturesque central village.
Some of the best German wines come from Rheinhessen.
Other regions
Grapes in wines from Rheinhessen
History of wines from Rheinhessen
The area historical viticulture dates back to the Roman times era and is the site of Germany's oldest documented vineyard, Glöck, established by Carloman, a Carolingian duke and Charlemagne's uncle, in 742. By the 9th century, grape cultivation had expanded throughout Rheinhessen. The grape variety Riesling was reported in Worms by 1402. At that time the grape was known as Rüssling.
After the Second World War, Germany lost prestige because of the large production of sweet wines made from low-grade grapes (like as Liebfraumilch). However, Professor Georg Scheu developed numerous aromatic, early-ripening grape hybrids and gave his name to the grape variety Scheurebe.
Terroir of wines from Rheinhessen
Rheinhessen and its expansive region boasts a variety of soils and climates. Its finest vineyards are located near the Rhine to benefit from the valley's warmth, moderate temperatures, and reflected sunlight. Shielded by the Taunus, Odenwald, and Hunsrück mountains, Rheinhessen enjoys a mild climate, an extended growing season, and minimal rainfall, making it one of the driest wine regions in Germany.
Rheinhessen consists of several sub-regions including Alzey, Bechtheim, Bingen, Bodenheim, Dalsheim, Hohen-Sulzen, Rheinterrasse, Siefersheim, Westhofen and Worms. However, the region can be split into three "areas" or zones, each with different wine quality and soil types. Nierstein, near Mainz near the Rhine, stands out for its quality, profiting from mineral-rich riverbeds and the iron-rich Roter Hang between Nackenheim and Nierstein within the Rheinterrasse sub-region. To the northwest, Bingen, which includes Ingelheim at the western bend of the Rhine, is known for its red wine production. Further south, the Wonnegau is home to Worms and Alzey, Rheinhessen's major wine centres.
The grapes of wines from Rheinhessen
The region is celebrated for its diversity of grape types. The main focus of Rheinhessen is white wine. Historically dominated by Müller-Thurgau, but nowadays Riesling has become more prominent. The region has also seen a notable increase in red wine production, mainly due to the Dornfelder grape. Therefore, red varieties are now responsible for one-third of the vineyard area. Dornfelder is the leading red grape variety, alongside other important varieties such as Silvaner, Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) and Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris).
The Scheurebe grape, developed by Georg Scheu in 1916 in the Alzey region of Rheinhessen, was originally thought to be a cross between Riesling and Silvaner. However, recent DNA analysis has disproved the presence of Silvaner. Despite its past popularity, Scheurebe cultivation has declined in Rheinhessen.
Wine producers
Classifications of Rheinhessen wines
Established in 1992 by the Rhenish Hessian Winegrowers' Union, "Selection Rhenish Hesse" represents a premium quality category for wines embodying the character of the region and meeting international standards. These wines, crafted from grapes sourced from old vines and handpicked, bear not only the German wine seal, they also have a label (banderole) that is typically made for these wines.
Rheinhessen is known for its specific areas of cultivation known as Prädikatswein and QbA (Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete). These categories denote wines of greater quality and more stringent requirements for grape growing and winemaking techniques. The VDP Grosse Lagen wines are highly regarded. Vineyards designated as "Grosse Lage," which denotes exceptional quality and distinctive terroir, are the source of these wines. Notably, only Riesling and Spätburgunder are allowed to produce the wines denominated as VDP Grosse Lagen.