Rheinhessen (wine-growing region)

Logo of the Rheinhessen marketing

Vineyards near Worms-Pfeddersheim

The Rheinhessen wine region, with 26,578 hectares of vineyards , the largest wine region of Germany . It is located completely on the left bank of the Rhine and thus in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate (see also: Rheinhessen region ). The wine-growing area is divided into 3 areas, 24 major locations and 432 individual locations. It is located in wine-growing zone A and is therefore one of the cool wine-growing climates ( winter hardiness zone 7).

The wine-growing region has been represented by the Rheinhessen Wine Queen , elected annually since 1953/1954 .

Since May 2008, Mainz has been a member of the Great Wine Capitals network with Rheinhessen .

overview

Largest wine-growing communities in the growing area	Rank according to vineyard area (within RLP)	Planted vineyards in 2017	Grape varieties
			White wine	red wine
		Ha	%
Rheinhessen		26,617	61	29
Worms	03	01,564	63	37
Westhofen	07th	00.787	75	25th
Alzey	08th	00.778	63	27
Nierstein	09	00.742	77	23
Alsheim	10	00.707	63	27
Bechtheim	11	00.660	73	27
Flörsheim-Dalsheim	12	00.646	68	32
Ingelheim am Rhein	13	00.642	51	49
Bingen am Rhein	15th	00.566	74	26th
Saulheim	16	00.523	76	24
Source: Leaflet Viticulture 2018. State Statistical Office Rhineland-Palatinate, Bad Ems, May 2018

VL6060 grape harvester from New Holland in Guntersblum after a job in the Rheinhessen vineyards

One fifth of the Rheinhessen region in Rhineland-Palatinate , which is also the least forested region in Germany , is planted with vines . Over 6,000 winemakers produce more than 2.5 million hectoliters of wine per year from the yield of around 120 million vines. Of the 136 communities in Rheinhessen, only Budenheim , Hochborn , Eich , Hamm and Nieder-Wiesen do not cultivate any wine in their own area.

Rheinhessen is also one of the most traditional cultivation areas , in which since 20 BC. Chr. Wine is grown. The oldest (742) documented vineyard in Germany is located in Nierstein , the Niersteiner Glöck . After the Bremer Ratskeller was built in 1405, only wines from Rheinhessen were served there - the common and the better .

Before the First World War, wines from Rheinhessen that achieved top prices at international auctions came from Rheinhessen . At one of the first auctions after the Second World War in July 1949 in London (Beaver Hall), the first successes were achieved with top German wines, including 1929 Liebfrauenmilch Auslese and 1934 Liebfrauenmilch Superior. The Niersteiner Riesling z. B. enjoyed a legendary reputation. In the middle to the end of the 20th century, however, there was a phase in which too much attention was paid to quantity, which permanently damaged the reputation of Rheinhessen wine. In this context, the Liebfrauenmilch from the large area of the same name was mentioned several times.

Towards the end of the 20th century, however, a rethink began. It is thanks to a new generation of winemakers that Rheinhessen wine is enjoying a good reputation again. Rheinhessen wineries are among the most highly decorated, and well-known wine critics and wine guides also emphasize the quality of the wines. Mostly it is Riesling or Silvaner, but some red wines are also praised. Winegrowers who focus uncompromisingly on quality (e.g. through yield limitation, controlled fermentation, etc.) are increasingly able to use the geological diversity of the region and produce absolutely top- quality wines .

Since late autumn 2007, the Federweißer from Rheinhessen has been allowed to call himself Rheinhessischer Federweißer , before that, according to the wine law, the term "Rheinischer Federweißer" had to be used. The designation "Rheinischer Federweißer" was based on the fact that Federweißer is not a quality wine and was subject to the labeling rights for table wine.

Grape varieties

Vine landscape near Gau-Bickelheim

Vineyard near Dalheim (Rheinhessen) .

70% of the Rheinhessen vineyards are planted with white grape varieties. Red wine is grown extensively in the area around Ingelheim and in Wonnegau .

Riesling (17.7%) and Müller-Thurgau (approx. 15.6%) dominate the range of white wines . Furthermore, Dornfelder (12.6%), Silvaner (8.1%), Portuguese (4.1%), Pinot Noir ( 5.5%), Pinot Gris (6.9%), Pinot Blanc (5.2%) and Kerner (2.8%) grown. The Scheurebe , which used to be popular because of its range of flavors , is increasingly being replaced by Sauvignon Blanc .

Riesling cultivation is concentrated on the Rhine around the towns of Nackenheim, Nierstein and Oppenheim. Cultivation is favored by mild temperatures, a lot of sun and little rainfall.

Of the grape varieties grown, only about 11 are of any market importance. The proportion of these individual varieties is shown in the following table.

Leading grape varieties in Rheinhessen (as of 2018) variety colour synonym Surface (%) Area (ha) 1. Riesling White White Riesling 17.7 4,738 2. Müller-Thurgau White Rivaner 15.6 4.187 3. Dornfelder red 12.6 3,374 4. Silvaner White Green Silvaner 8.1 2.162 5. Pinot Gris White Marginal lands 6.9 1,835 6. Pinot Noir red Pinot Noir 5.5 1,470 7. White Burgundy White Klevner, Pinot Blanc 5.2 1,381 8. Blue Portuguese red 4.1 1.108 9. Kerner White 2.8 754 10th Regent red 2.8 698 11. Scheurebe White S88 2.6 703

Source: Rhineland Palatinate State Statistical Office

White varieties

Approved white grape varieties
Albalonga Arnsburger Auxerrois Bacchus Bronner Chardonnay Ehrenbreitsteiner Ehrenfelser Elbling Faberrebe Boulder Freer Formerly Malingre Yellow muscatel Gewürztraminer	Gold Riesling Pinot Gris Gutedel Hibernal Holder Huxelrebe Johanniter jewel Chancellor Kerner Kernling Malvasia Mariensteiner Merzling Morio nutmeg Müller-Thurgau (Rivaner)	Nutmeg Ottonel Noble Optima Orion Ortega Osteiner pearl Phoenix Principal Sprinkler Reichensteiner Rieslaner Riesling Sauvignon Blanc Scheurebe	Schoenburger Septimer Winning vine Silcher Silvaner Sirius Staufer Viognier White Burgundy Flavoring

Red varieties

Grapes of the red Pinot Noir grape variety

Approved red grape varieties
Acolon Blue burger Cabernet Mitos Cabernet Sauvignon Dakapo Opaque red Dominatrix	Dornfelder Dark fields Pinot Noir Hegel Helfensteiner Herald vine Lemberger	Merlot Hall Portuguese regent rondo Rotberger Black Riesling	Pinot Noir St. Laurent Dove black Trollinger Zweigelt

Areas and major locations

The total of 26 major locations are divided into 434 individual layers :

Bingen area

→ Main article : Bingen area

• Sankt Rochuskapelle: Aspisheim , Kempten am Rhein , Bingen am Rhein , Büdesheim , Dietersheim , Sponsheim , Grolsheim , Gensingen , Horrweiler , Welgesheim , Biebelsheim , Pfaffen-Schwabenheim , Zotzenheim , Badenheim , Dromersheim , Ockenheim
• Abbey: Gau-Algesheim , Appenheim , Nieder-Hilbersheim , Sprendlingen , Sankt Johann , Wolfsheim , Partenheim
• Rheingrafenstein: Pleitersheim , Volxheim , Hackenheim , Frei-Laubersheim , Tiefenthal , Fürfeld , Wonsheim , Neu-Bamberg , Siefersheim , Wöllstein , Eckelsheim
• Adelberg : Nack , Wendelsheim , Flonheim , Uffhofen , Erbes-Büdesheim , Bornheim , Lonsheim , Bermersheim vor der Höhe , Armsheim , Schimsheim , Ensheim , Rommersheim , Wörrstadt , Sulzheim
• Elector's piece : Gumbsheim , Gau-Bickelheim , Wallertheim , Gau-Weinheim , Vendersheim
• Kaiserpfalz: Jugenheim in Rheinhessen , Engelstadt , Bubenheim , Schwabenheim an der Selz , Großwinternheim , Ingelheim am Rhein , Wackernheim , Heidesheim am Rhein

Nierstein area

• Sankt Alban: Hechtsheim , Laubenheim , Ebersheim , Bodenheim , Gau-Bischofsheim , Harxheim , Lörzweiler
• Canon: Klein-Winternheim , Mainz , Ober-Olm , Essenheim , Elsheim , Stadecken , Saulheim , Udenheim , Schornsheim , Gabsheim
• Good Domtal: Nieder-Olm , Lörzweiler , Nackenheim , Schwabsburg , Dexheim , Dalheim , Weinolsheim , Friesenheim , Undenheim , Köngernheim , Selzen , Hahnheim , Sörgenloch , Zornheim , Mommenheim
• Spiegelberg: Nackenheim , Nierstein , Schwabsburg
• Rehbach: Nierstein
• Auflangen: Nierstein , Schwabsburg
• Güldenmorgen: Oppenheim , Dienheim , Uelversheim
• Toad fountain: Oppenheim , Dienheim , Ludwigshöhe , Guntersblum , Gimbsheim , Alsheim , Eich , Mettenheim , Hillesheim , Wintersheim , Dolgesheim , Eimsheim , Uelversheim
• Bird gardens: Ludwigshöhe , Guntersblum
• Petersberg : Bechtolsheim , Gau-Odernheim , Gau-Köngernheim , Framersheim , Gau-Heppenheim , Albig , Biebelnheim , Spiesheim
• Rosenberg: Biebelnheim
• Pilgrim stone: Biebelnheim
• Rhine view: Alsheim , Dorn-Dürkheim , Mettenheim

Wonnegau area

• Sybillinenstein: Bechenheim , Offenheim , Mauchenheim , Weinheim , Heimersheim , Alzey , Kettenheim , Dautenheim , Wahlheim , Freimersheim
• Mountain monastery: Esselborn , Flomborn , Eppelsheim , Dintesheim , Hangen-Weisheim , Gundersheim , Gundheim , Bermersheim , Westhofen
• Pilgrim path: Frettenheim , Dittelsheim , Heßloch , Monzernheim , Bechtheim , Osthofen
• Divine aid: Bechtheim , Osthofen
• Rodenstein Castle: Ober-Flörsheim , Bermersheim , Dalsheim , Nieder-Flörsheim , Mörstadt
• Cathedral view: Mölsheim , Monsheim , Wachenheim , Kriegsheim , Hohen-Sülzen , Offstein
• Liebfrauenmorgen: Worms , Worms-Leiselheim , Worms-Abenheim , Worms-Herrnsheim , Worms-Pfeddersheim , Worms-Horchheim , Worms-Weinsheim , Worms-Wiesoppenheim , Worms-Heppenheim

Awards

DLG-recommended wineries

Sign on a winery recommended by the DLG

The German Agricultural Society (DLG) has been auditing wineries and winegrowing cooperatives since 1999 and awards the annual winners of the competitions with the certificates DLG-Recommended Winery or DLG-Recommended Winery .

The validity of the award is initially limited to three years. Afterwards, annual checks are carried out to determine whether the criteria are still being met. The following wineries in Rheinhessen have received awards so far:

• "Alte Schmiede" winery
• Anton Escher winery
• Ernst Bretz winery
• Göhring winery
• Louis Guntrum winery
• Hagemann Winery (Charlottenhof)
• Georg Gustav Huff winery
• United wineries Krebs-Grode
• Manz Winery
• Meyerhof winery
• Peth-Wetz winery
• Raddeck winery
• Adolf Schick Winery
• Schmitt Weedenbornerhof winery
• Singer-Fischer winery
• Strubel-Roos winery

Great Wine Capitals

In May 2008, Rheinhessen and its “Wine Capital Mainz” were included in the Great Wine Capitals network. One characteristic wine-growing region per country is included in this network. In addition to Mainz / Rheinhessen, this network includes cities and regions such as Bilbao / Rioja , Bordeaux / Bordeaux , Florence / Tuscany , Cape Town / Cape Winelands , Mendoza / Mendoza , Porto / Dourotal and San Francisco / Napa Valley . The New Zealand city of Christchurch with the wine-growing regions of the South Island has been the latest member of the global network since November 2009.

See also

• Viticulture in Mainz
• Former administrative units
  • Administrative region of Rheinhessen and
  • District of Rheinhessen-Pfalz
• Viticulture in Rhineland-Palatinate
• German Viticulture Museum

literature

• Jens Priewe: Wine, the new big school. Zabert Sandmann, 1997, ISBN 3-932023-02-1 .
• Hess. Weinbauverband, Oppenheim: The Rhine wines from Hesse, Rheinhessen and the Bergstrasse. 2nd edition v. Babble. Mainz 1927.
• Paul Kadel: Contributions to the Rhine-Hessian winegrowing language. Giessen 1928.
• Monika Becht: Rheinhessen wine region. Societäts-Verlag , Frankfurt 2005, ISBN 3-7973-0936-8 .
• Matthias F. Mangold : Rheinhessen in a glass. Höma-Verlag, Offenbach 2006, ISBN 3-937329-14-5 .

Web links

Commons : Vineyards of Rheinhessen  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Information on the subject : DLR
• Rheinhessen wine and tourism portal
• Winegrowers and wineries in Rheinhessen
• Great Wine Capitals - Website of the wine capital Mainz / Rheinhessen

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} German Wine Institute : Statistics 2016/2017 . Mainz 2017 ( deutscheweine.de [PDF; 706 kB ] Planted vineyards and important grape varieties according to growing areas in 2015]).
2. ^ German Wine Institute - Rheinhessenwein eV ( Memento from March 14, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
3. ↑ Press release of the City of Mainz ( Memento of February 7, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) of May 19, 2008.
4. ↑ Article about Hochborn . With reference to the non-wine towns of Hochborn, Eich and Hamm.
5. ^ Rhein-Zeitung 30./31. July 1949
6. ↑ "Rheinhessen" on the label - winegrowers use the amended wine law in the Allgemeine Zeitung of September 11, 2008 for Federweissers
7. ↑ ( Page no longer available , search in web archives: Federweißer from Rheinhessen will finally be called "Rheinhessischer Federweißer" from 2008 ) in Rhein-Zeitung online from September 10, 2008 based on a message from the farmers and winegrowers' association Rhineland-Palatinate South
8. ↑ Jörg Weiand: Sauvignon blanc - How do the date of reading, reductive expansion and yeast strain influence the aroma expression? on www.DLR-RNH.rlp.de
9. ↑ State Statistical Office of Rhineland Palatinate: Vineyard area of ​​wine grapes 1964–2015 according to selected grape varieties, growing areas and areas . Mainz 2016 ( rlp.de [PDF]).