First growth

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Vollrads Castle : Example of a Riesling "First Growth"
Example of a classified Pinot Noir location: Assmannshäuser Höllenberg

First plant is a quality designation that has existed in the Rheingau since 1999 exclusively for the Riesling and Pinot Noir grape varieties from classified locations. The Rheingau Viticulture Association has approved them on the basis of the Implementing Ordinance to the Wine Act of October 5, 1995 with the consent of the Hessian Ministry of Viticulture.

A prerequisite for achieving this rating is a climatically favorable location and suitable soil ( terroir ). In addition, there are conditions that the individual winemaker must design and influence himself. These include a special pruning (→ Training system ) to avoid overproduction, selective hand-picking and dry construction.

One third of the Rheingau's vineyards (approx. 1100 ha) are classified for first plants .

Cultivation and production criteria for Riesling and Pinot Noir

  • Origin of the wines: exclusively from classified sites (quality card)
  • Grape variety: 100% Riesling or 100% Pinot Noir
  • Registration of the area: by May 1st of each year
  • Cultivation criteria: grapes come from low-yield plants
  • the must weight at harvest must be at least for Spätlese be suitable
  • Yield: max. 50 hl / ha
  • Reading process: selective hand-picking
  • Riesling: a tastefully dry wine up to max. 13 g / l residual sugar; At least 12 percent total alcohol by volume when marketing
  • Pinot Noir: a dry wine up to max. 6 g / l residual sugar; At least 13 percent total alcohol by volume when marketing

Examination procedure

An independent examination commission commissioned by the Rheingauer Weinbauverband has the right to inspect the vineyard sites of the first plant at any time.

The wines can be presented to the independent expert group appointed by the Viticulture Association for sensory testing from May 1st of the year following the harvest (Riesling) or the year after next (Pinot Noir).

Marketing rules

  • The wines may only be labeled with the additional quality mark "First Growth" after they have successfully passed the sensory test.
  • “First plants” are marketed as quality wines in principle - without taking into account the predicate level actually achieved .
  • Only producer and product bottlings with the indication of the producer may be labeled with the quality mark "First Growth" .
  • The indication of taste “dry” can be given optionally, provided that the wine meets the wine law requirements. A dry wine has a maximum residual sugar content of 9 g / l, whereby the acid content may be a maximum of 2 g / l lower.
  • The use of the Rheingau flute is recommended.
  • The uniformly designed pictorial symbol with the three Romanesque arches on a black or white bar and the distinction of the first growth are essential for the equipment of the “First Growth”.
  • Riesling Erstes Gewächs may be marketed for the first time from September 1st of the year following the harvest, and Pinot Noir Erste Gewächs from September 1st of the year following the harvest.

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