History of wines from Rheingau

In the Rheingau, medieval winemakers (including ecclesiastical and aristocratic estates) were early adopters of the noble Riesling grape. In the 18th century, they pioneered the practice of selective harvesting based on the ripeness of the grape and late harvesting, leading to quality classifications such as "Spätlese". These innovations are evident in the practices of the region throughout the years. Spätlese Riesling has come to symbolize Rheingau winemaking. The "First Growth" label now signifies a winemaker's commitment to exceptional quality and is limited to wines from prestigious "Premier Cru" sites that meet strict criteria.

Terroir of Rheingau wines

The region's geography and soil types vary widely from the gentle, rolling hills and limestone soils in Hochheim to the steep slate slopes in Assmannshausen. The central area, from Walluf to Rüdesheim, features gentle south-facing slopes with a mix of slate, quartzite, sandstone, gravel, and loess.

The Rheingau enjoys a cool continental climate, characterized by warm summers and cold winters. The region's vineyards are shielded from cold winds by the Taunus Hills and gain warmth from the Rhine's heat-reflecting surface.

The grapes of Rheingau wines

Riesling is leading in the area with nearly 80% of vineyards dedicated to this variety. Rheingau village, is notable for its west-facing slate terraces primarily devoted to Pinot Noir and ranks second in the area. Additionally, some local producers are experimenting with small amounts of other white varieties like Viognier and Orléans, likely inspired by the nearby viticultural institute at Geisenheim.

Classifications of Rheingau wines

Qualitätswein wines, defined by a minimum grape ripeness, must originate from one of the 13 wine regions, which are also called anbaugebieten in Germany. Labels often indicate sweetness levels, with "Trocken/Selection" for dry wines. The classification of selection refers to the wines that are from Reingau and the grapes are hand-harvested for the production of wines. "Halbtrocken/Classic" for slightly sweet wines for "Classic", "Feinherb" for off-dry wines akin to Halbtrocken, "Liebliche" for sweet wines, and "süß" for very sweet wines. "Classic" and "Selection" are modern alternatives to "Halbtrocken" and "Trocken".

Presently, VDP ("Verband deutscher Prädikatsweingüter") is widely utilized outside of Mosel, especially in the Rheingau anbaugebiet, and it encompasses both sweet and dry styles. VDP adds a layer of regional classification akin to Burgundy's system. "VDP Grosse Lage" or "VDP Grosses Gewächs" denote top-quality sites, typically single vineyards. VDP-classified dry Rieslings are marked "Qualitätswein" and "Trocken," and may include Prädikat system ripeness terms (e.g., Spätlese, Auslese).

The area includes sub-regions such as Assmannshausen, Geisenheim, Erbach, Hallgarten, Hattenheim, Hochheim am Main, Johannisberg, Lorch, Martinsthal, Mittelheim, Oestrich, Kiedrich, Rauenthal, Rudesheim, Wicker, Walluf, and Winkel.

Some producers have been influential in promoting medium-bodied, crisp dry Rieslings suitable for dining. This style has been widely adopted and formalized in the region's Erstes Gewächs (first growth) bottlings. The VDP association has furthered the prominence of dry wines in Rheingau and beyond, with top single vineyard dry Rieslings often labelled as Erstes Gewächs, paralleling the Grosses Gewächs classification.