Mittelrhein (wine region)

The wine region of the Middle Rhine is one according to § 3 para 1 No. 5 wine law designated as " specified region ' region for quality wine, which largely coincides with the geographical area of the middle Rhine and resides predominantly in Rhineland -Palatinate, but also the wine-growing villages Oberdollendorf, Niederdollendorf, King Winter and Rhöndorf in North Rhine- Westphalia includes. With a total vineyard area of about 450 ha (as of 2012) of the Middle Rhine is the second smallest growing region in Germany.

Every year, the Middle Rhine wine queen is chosen.

3.1 vineyards

4.1 White varieties
4.2 Red varieties

Geography

Geographical location

The wine region of the Middle Rhine extends over about 110 km from the Nahe near Bingen to the Seven Mountains near Bonn. While the upper middle Rhine, from Bingen to Koblenz, mainly the left side of the slope along the Rhine was planted with vines, is planted mainly the right bank of the lower middle Rhine, ranging from Koblenz to the Seven Mountains. The right side of the Rhine between Lorchhausen and Rüdesheim lies in Hesse and belongs to the Rheingau wine region. The vineyard has three priorities: in the south to Bacharach / Oberwesel, in the center of Boppard Hamm, in the north to the village people / Hammerstein. For Middle Rhine include the vineyards in the Lahn Valley to Weinähr.

Climate

On the middle Rhine has a temperate climate, which means that there are relatively many days of sunshine without the heat get out of hand or too low temperatures. During the months of June to August it rains, at least as regards the growth conditions for the wine, sufficient 570 mm on average. The water level of the Rhine and the inclined towards the sun flooring store during the day heat energy that they give off after sunset again, so that excessive variations in temperature are avoided. The steep valley sides provide morning for a quick cold air drainage. It so happens that the annual average temperature is 9.3 ° C.

Soils

In addition to the climate, the nature of the soil is one of the main criteria for the characteristics of a wine. The soils are responsible for the characteristics and thus often also for the uniqueness of the crop. On the middle Rhine Slate and Grauwackeverwitterungsböden dominate the landscape, which store heat during the day. In the north are the soils of volcanic origin. Pumice and tuff, but also Lössinseln, clay and rhinestone soils are found.

History

Have brought the wine the Romans. The wine came at the time of the Moselle River in the pelvic area between Koblenz and Neuwied. There was first operated in flat vineyards, prove what archaeological finds in the district Miesenheim at Andernach. In the 4th century by the building of the Roman fort Baudobriga on the Roman Rheintalstraße. Venantius Fortunatus, who lived in Metz at the court of King Sigebert I., reported in his poem De navigio suo ( "On his voyage " ) from the year 588 of a ride the Mosel down to Andernach and people village with the young Merovingian king Childebert II ( 570-595 ).

After withdrawal of the Romans was 643 the first recorded mention of the town of Boppard in the early Middle Ages. Boppard was Frankish royal court and administrative center of Boppard Empire. In the documents from the Merovingian and Carolingian period to find evidence for viticulture in Rheinbrohl ( 650 ), Remagen ( 754 ) and Kestert ( 768). The first vineyards were laid out in flat layers near the shore.

However, the wine developed in the Middle Ages from the Moselle River to the south. This development took place in four phases from the 11th to the late 14th century.

Vineyards and varietals

Vineyards

The area is divided into two sections, eleven regional sites and 111 individual layers.

The large-scale situations are ( from south to north ):

Known individual layers are:

Varieties

85% of the vineyards are planted with white varieties.

Mainly Riesling (about 68 % of the vineyard ) is grown, along with, among others, Pinot Noir ( 9%), Müller- Thurgau or rivaner (5.5%), Kerner ( 2.7%), spine fields (3.1%), Scheurebe, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Portuguese.

White varieties

Albalonga
Arnsburger
Auxerrois
Bacchus
Bronner
Chardonnay
Ehrenbreitsteiner
Ehrenfelser
Elfling
Faberrebe
Foundling
Freisamer
Previously Malingre
Muscat
Gewürztraminer

Goldriesling
Pinot Gris
Gutedel
Hibernal
Hölder
Huxelrebe
St. John
Jewel
Chancellor
Kerner
Kernling
Marie Steiner
Merzling
Morio - Muskat
Müller- Thurgau ( Rivaner )

Muscat Ottonel
Nobling
Optima
Orion
Ortega
Osteiner
Pearl
Phoenix
Principal
Regner
Reichensteiner
Rieslaner
Riesling
Sauvignon Blanc
Scheurebe

Schönburger
Septimer
Siegerrebe
Silcherstraße
Silvaner
Sirius
Staufer
White Burgundy
Würzer

Red varieties

Acolon
Blauburger
Cabernet Mitos
Cabernet Sauvignon
Dakapo
Deckrot
Domina

Dornfelder
Dark fields
Frühburgunder
Hegel
Helfensteiner
Heroldrebe
Lemberger

Merlot
Palas
Portuguese
Regent
Rondo
Rotberg
Meunier

Pinot Noir
St. Laurent
Tauberschwarz
Trollinger
Zweigelt

Source: Handbook of grape varieties, specialized publishing Fraund

Wineries

Viticulture in the Middle Rhine is dominated by mostly small private vineyards, cultivation and expansion of the wine are usually in one hand. The wines are often only be obtained directly from the growers, cooperatives, there are few. Overall, there is the Middle Rhine around 150 wineries, one of which has a third of a connected Wine Gastronomy.

People villages and Hammersteiner wineries have joined forces in accordance with the past here leading Rheinsteig hiking, the term Weinsteig winemakers. Tourist Region is marketed under the keyword " Romantic Rhine ".

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