Burg Katz/St. Goarshausen Foto: DWI/Hartmann

The regions spans along 100 kilometres on both sides of the river Rhine: on the left-hand side, beginning at the Nahe estuary, to Koblenz. On the right-hand side, the vineyards reach far into the north, to the Siebengebirge.

South of Koblenz and Lahnstein, excellent vines thrive on extreme slopes. Many of the slopes that are difficult to access are not used anymore, since cultivation would be too expensive. In 1980, the Middle Rhine had about 2000 ha of vineyards, nowadays there are only 640 ha left.

Leutesdorf, at the lower Middle Rhine, has heavy loess soils, Boppard has slate rocks with embedded pumice stone. In Bachrach and Steeg, the best dry vines of the region grow on Devonian slates.

The narrow, protected Rhine valley creates a good climate. The “Bopparder Hamm”, on the left-hand side of the river is the region’s largest vineyard, with 6 kilometres length. Excellent Rieslings grow on the southern slopes and the glens of Boppard, Steeg and Kaub, which are difficult to access and work on.

Main vine varieties: Riesling (70%) Late Burgunder (8%), Mueller-Thurgau (7%).