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?

Rheinhessen wine - Rheinhessen wine — With its ideal conditions for viticulture, Rheinhessen is the largest German wine-growing region.
Photo: djd / www.rheinhessenwein.de

"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?

Book your accommodation for connoisseurs in Rheinhessen here *

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.

Christine Huff from the Fritz Ekkehard Huff winery in Nierstein, which she runs together with her husband Jeremy Bird-Huff.
Photo: djd / www.rheinhessenwein.de / Jason Sellers

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

Accommodation for wine lovers in Rheinhessen

Niersteiner Glöck vineyard Photo: djd / www.rheinhessenwein.de / Torsten Silz — Niersteiner Glöck vineyard: Rheinhessen is one of 13 protected designations of origin established for wines from Germany. Photo: djd/www.rheinhessenwein.de/Torsten Silz

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 winegrowers specialize in this grape variety, especially in the areas around Hakenheim, Nierstein and Oppenheim. In second place is Müller-Thurgau, followed by Dornfelder, Silvaner, Portugieser, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Kerner. While Scheurebe was also popular up to now, Sauvignon Blanc is increasingly taking its place.

Do you like traveling by motorhome?

Do you want to rent a mobile home? Then you will find information and a selection of booking options. Or would you prefer to stay overnight instead in a roof tent on the car? In addition, the overnight stay in camping tents is possible.
Be sure to check our packing list for camperswhether you have packed everything for your motorhome tour to Rheinhessenwein.
Practical accessories for the mobile home you can find here.
Parking spaces and campsites in Germany here.
Our Tips for motorhome trips we have collected here.
Why is a folding e-bike useful when camping?

Conclusion: There are many ways to taste wine

We still like to try wines on site before purchasing a range. Nevertheless, there are ways you can get wines from wine regions like Rheinhessen. The best thing to do is buy a few bottles and do your wine tasting at home. You can also do a virtual wine tasting, although in this case not with Rheinhessen wine. It's even better if there's a wine dealer in your neighborhood. You can often do free wine tastings here. Then you should also buy wines. Only then can you decide which one tastes good to you. You can have one too Excursion with wine tasting in the Rhine Valley * .