Rheingau

Wine-growing region in Germany, the total vineyard area is 3.205 hectares. It stretches from the lower Main river to the east of Wiesbaden over a distance of some 50 kilometres along the right bank of the Rhine as far as Lorch, to the north of Rüdesheim. The wide river ensures a temperate climate, the reflective effect of the water enhances the sunshine. In addition, fog in autumn encourages the development of botrytis, or noble rot. According to legend, emperor Charlemagne (742-814) had the first vineyards planted close to where the Schloss Johannisberg castle is today. In addition, the concept of “Spätlese”, or late harvest, is said to have been invented here, as documented by the story of the late harvest rider. The Rheingau, more than many other regions, benefited from the vitidultural activities of the Benedictine and Cistercian Catholic orders, they also owned extensive vineyard holdings. The quality designation Kabinett can be traced back to the Cabinet cellar of the famous Cistercian abbey Kloster Eberbach, which is still in existence today. This abbey was also instrumental in the move to uproot red varieties, and to replace them with Riesling vines. The Charta Rheingau association is dedicated to the cultivation of Rheingau Riesling, and holds a charity auction at the abbey each year. Riesling is mentioned for the first time in Rüsselheim in 1435. The town of Hochheim has become a synonym for German Rhine wines, the name was transformed into the English word hock, used to describe this type of wine. The research institute for viticulture, horticulture and fruit farming was founded in Geisenheim in 1872, this became a major influence in German viticulture. As a curiosity, the free state of Flaschenhals (bottle-neck) existed here for three years after the First World War.

Most of the vineyards are located on south-facing slopes. The beuatiful „Rheingau Riesling Route“ follows the right bank of the river from Lorch to Hochheim. Since ist modern classification in 1971, the Rheingau has consisted of a single district, Johannisberg with eleven regional sites and 120 single vineyard sites. Quartz and slate soils in the upper reaches, as well as loess and clay soils in the valley are an ideal basis for racy, spicy white wines. In addition, the phyllite slate found around Assmannshausen provides optimum conditions for growing red wine. The area is well protected by the Taunus mountains to the north, and enjoys mild winters and warm summers. The designation Erstes Gewächs (First Growth) was used for the first time for the 1999 vintage, it may be used for wines grown on vineyard sites classified as being first class. Well-known wine-producing communes, including their sites, are: Assmanshausen with Frankenthal and Höllenberg; Eltville with Hohenrain, Nussbrunnen, Steinberg and Wisselbrunnen; Erbach with Honigberg, Marcobrunn and Michelmark; Geisenheim with Kläuserweg and Rothenberg; Hochheim with Domdechaney, Hölle and Kirchenstück; Johannisberg with Hölle, Klaus#Klaus (Rheingau), Schloss Johannisberg#Johannisberg and Vogelsang; Kiedrich with Gräfenberg; Rauenthal with Rothenberg; Rüdesheim with Berg Roseneck, Berg Rottland, Berg Schlossberg, Drachenstein, Kirchenpfad, Klosterlay and Rosengarten; as well as Oestrich-Winkel with Doosberg, Hasensprung, Jesuitengarten, Klosterberg and Lenchen.

Well-known producers include: Breuer Georg, Dr. Corvers-Kauter, Eser August, F.B. Schönleber, Freiherrlich Langwerth von Simmern´sches Rentamt, Fürst Löwenstein, Geheimrat J. Wegeler Erben, Hessische Staatsweingüter (state-owned estate), Johannishof Eser, Jung Jakob, Kesseler, König Robert, Krone, Kühn Peter Jakob, Künstler, Leitz, G.H. von Mumm, Prinz Fred, Prinz von Hessen, Querbach, Ress, Schloss Johannisberg, Schloss Reinhartshausen, Schloss Schönborn, Schloss Vollrads, Toni Jost Hahnenhof and Weil Robert. White varieties dominate, accounting for 85% of the total, most of which is Riesling. Status of varieties as of 2001):
Variety Synonyms Colour Hectares % share
Riesling Weißer Riesling White 2.518 78,6
Pinot Noir Spätburgunder Red 394 12,3
Müller-Thurgau Rivaner White 75 2,3
Pinot Blanc Weißburgunder White 30 0,9
Kerner - White 22 0,7
Ehrenfelser - White 21 0,7
Dornfelder - Red 17 0,5
Dunkelfelder - Red 15 0,5
Pinot Gris Ruländer, Grauburgunder White 15 0,5
Blauer Portugieser Portugieser Red 12 0,4
Silvaner Grüner Silvaner White 10 0,3
Chardonnay - White 7 0,2
Reichensteiner - White 6 0,2
Traminer Roter Traminer White 5 0,1
Scheurebe Sämling 88 White 3 0,1
White varieties 2.728 85,19
Red varieties 477 14,9
TOTAL 3.205 100