Rheinhessen - Regional Bio Flashcards
Rheinhessen Bio
Rheinhessen is responsible for the largest production by volume of Qualitatswein in Germany. Located on the west bank of the Rhine, it is also known as ‘the land of a thousand hills’ and has been in use since Roman times.
The area is just south of Rheingau, north of Pfalz and east of Nahe. The region is known for its stony soils of loess and loam, providing the vines with warmth in the evenings while being one of the driest regions in Germany with only 500mm of rain per year.
There are three sub-regions with varying quality and soil compositions. The Bereich Nierstein is the highest quality with rich mineral deposits on the riverbed being next to the Rhine. This is where you’ll find the Red Slope (Roter Hang) because of the red slate found here, between Nackenheim and Nierstein, as part of the Rheinterrasse sub-region.
Bingen is in the north-west and is where the majority of red grapes are grown.
Bereich Wonnegau is further south and includes Worms and Alzey, where Scheurebe was invented in 1916.
Muller-Thurgau, Riesling, Dornfelder and Spatburgunder are, from highest to lowest, the most planted grapes in the region.
