Rheinhessen wine for beginners

Rheinhessen wine for beginners

We like to drink wine. It has to taste good. That's one of the reasons why we often do Wine Regions visit the world. We try wines from the region at the local winemakers, which we then bring home. Nevertheless, we would not call ourselves wine connoisseurs. There is more to it than just drinking a glass of wine. It is not always possible to buy wines directly from the winemaker. Nevertheless we learn more and more. However, if we want to buy wine in Rheinhessen, we have to rely on tips from others. We first have to explore the wine region on the Rhine more closely. What makes Rheinhessenwein so special? What do you have to look out for when buying?

 

 

"The soul of wine"

A Riesling from Rheinhessen or a Franconian Silvaner? A Dornfelder from the Palatinate or a Pinot Gris from Baden? What does the origin of a wine say? Can the quality be read off the label?

 

 

Rheinhessenwein is a reflection of its origins

The soil in which the vines are rooted is just as important for the quality of a Rheinhessen wine as the climatic conditions and the work of the winemaker. In some vineyards, for example, the soil is shaped by limestone, in others by loess, which is then also reflected in the wine. "Origin is like a fingerprint, it is the soul of a wine," explains winemaker Christine Huff from the Fritz Ekkehard Huff winery in Nierstein, one of around 2.000 wineries in Germany's largest wine-growing region, Rheinhessen.

 

 

The region around Nierstein is characterized by the “red slope”: In the vineyards, iron-rich red rock dominates, the clay sandstone soil is dry and can store heat well. “Riesling in particular is a variety that has deep roots in dry soil such as on the Red Slope. On its way to the water, the vine absorbs the minerals from the soil, ”says the winemaker. This reflection of the soil then goes into the grapes and shapes the wine. The typical Riesling from the “Rote Hang” has a spicy note and is unique in its clear structure.

 

 

Estate wine, local wine or single vineyard wine? Which Rheinhessen wine is the best?

So if you want to taste a real original on the tongue and on the palate, you should choose a Rheinhessen wine with an indication of the origin. If “Rheinhessen” is on the label, 100 percent of the grapes for Riesling, Silvaner and Co. come from this region. Here wine lovers can search for wineries. The information on the wine-growing area, e.g. Rheinhessen, the location, e.g. Nierstein, or the location, e.g. Niersteiner Pettenthal, on the label provide orientation when buying wine.

Estate wines are considered to be the winemaker's "calling cards"; only grapes from the winery are used for them. Local wines should show the character of the place - the grapes come from the best vineyards within a locality. Single-site wines, on the other hand, represent the highest quality wines of a company - the grapes are ripened in individual layers. For Christine Huff, this information is a quality feature: “The vines only grow here on my doorstep, these terroir features only exist here. You can't copy or falsify that. "

 

Rheinhessen wine has been around since ancient times

It is said that wine was grown in Rheinhessen as early as before Christ. Viticulture has been documented in the region around Nierstein since 742. The Niersteiner Glöck is thus the oldest wine location in Germany that has been documented. Rheinhessen wine enjoyed an excellent reputation until the middle of the 20th century. The wines achieved top prices at wine auctions. In the second half of the 20th century, however, the region's winemakers placed more emphasis on quantity than quality. This permanently damaged the reputation of the wine from Rheinhessen. That changed again in the first decades of the 21st century. For the young generation of winemakers from Rheinhessen, the quality of the wine is more important than the quantity. Today, young winemakers attach great importance to using the properties of the terroir for their wines. As a result, they produce top quality wines.

Wine types for the Rheinhessen wine

Riesling is by far the leading wine variety in Rheinhessen. The winemakers around Nackenheim, Nierstein and Oppenheim specialize in this grape variety. In second place is Müller Thurgau, followed by Dornfelder, Silvaner, Portuguese, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Kerner. The Scheurebe was also popular so far, but Sauvignon Blanc is increasingly taking its place.

Conclusion: There are many ways to taste wine

We still like to taste wines on the spot before we buy an assortment. Nevertheless, there are ways in which you can get wines from wine regions like Rheinhessen. The best thing to do is to buy a few bottles and do your wine tasting at home. You can also do a virtual wine tasting, in this case not with Rheinhessen wine. It's even better if there's a wine merchant in your neighborhood. You can often do free wine tastings at these. But then you should also buy wines. Only then can you decide which tastes good for you. You can have one too Excursion with wine tasting in the Rhine Valley * .

Travel Arrangements:

Parking at the airport

Here you can reserve your parking space at the airport.

Arrival

Arrival by plane, bus or train*. The nearest airport is Frankfurt.

Car Rentals:

Car rental price comparison for Germany

Accommodations:

Hotels, apartments and other accommodations in Rheinhessen * you can book at this link.

Travel guide to Rheinhessenwein

On Amazon you can Travel guide for Rheinhessen * order

Discover more Slow Travel Tips here.

 

Do you already know:

• Mainz Spundekäs is served with Wine in Rheinhessen
• Hike along the Rhine – which is the most beautiful?
• Mainz - The top sights for connoisseurs
• Volkach am Main wine festival
• How the Viktualienmarkt reflects Munich and its soul
• Grüner Veltliner and Riesling in Kamptal
• Taste the World: Wine Regions to Discover

Source: Research and djd / www.rheinhessenwein.de

Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Copyright see caption