The small quality focused region of Rheingau surrounds the town of Wiesbadern with the majority of its vineyards following the right bank of the Rhein River as far as Larchhausen. The predominant variety planted by far is Riesling, which is mostly used to make quality trocken (dry) white table wine, displaying good acidity and ample flavor. The wines that regularly obtain the highest prices are the super sweet Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese made from Riesling. Small amounts of high quality Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) is some of the finest found in Germany and mainly come from the calcareous soils of Hochheim, on the right bank of the Main River, and at the opposite end of the region, to the Northwest, in the vineyards surrounding Assmannshausen. A rare and unique find from this region is pink Trockenbeerenauslese.
The wide, south facing, vineyard covered rises, bordering the Rhine, are sheltered by the Taunus Hills and warmed by reflections from the Rhine. The River is also responsible for the mists that cause the Botrytis Cinerea fungus that is necessary to make quality sweet wines. The soils vary hugely, from steep slate terraces to porous sites close to the river and almost everything else in between.
|
