The Winery Heinz Nikolai of Rheingau

Discovering the wine region of Rheingau

Rheingau is one of the most important of Germany's 13 Anbaugebiete wine regions. However it is far from the biggest; with 3,076 hectares (7,600 acres) of Vineyard">Vineyards documented in 2012, its output is around one tenth of that from the Pfalz and Rheinhessen regions. Located on the Rhine a 20-minute drive west of Frankfurt, the -gau suffix denotes that it was once a county of the Frankish Empire. The classic Rheingau wine is a DryRiesling with pronounced Acidity and aromas of citrus fruits and smoke-tinged minerality – typically more "masculine" than its equivalent from the Mosel.

It is worth noting, however, that the region also produces some of Germany's very finest Sweet, botrytized Rieslings, with flavors as exotic as apricot purée, honey and caramelized mandarin. Now atypical (yet still a fascinating Part of the region's wine history), is the sweet Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) once widely produced in Assmannshausen until the late 20th Century. After flowing roughly northwards for 280 kilometers (175 miles), the Rhine turns suddenly westwards for 25 kilometers (15 miles) between Wiesbaden and Rudesheim. It is here, on the river's northern, south-facing banks, that 90 percent of Rheingau vineyards are located.

The remaining 10 percent are divided into two sections: the flat land around Hochheim (along the Main river just before its confluence with the Rhine), and the perilously steep slopes between Assmannshausen and Lorch. The Rhine is of vital importance to many German vineyards, the vast majority of which are located within just a few miles of it. Here in the Rheingau the river's benefits are at their most obvious; not only does it reflect sunlight onto the vineyards above, it also helps to moderate temperatures to a certain extent, providing a few extra frost-free weeks at either end of the growing season. The most visible benefit, however, are the gentle south-facing slopes the river has carved into the landscape here.