Weinberge bei Erbes-Budesheim Foto: DWI/Hartmann

There are not many areas that are so exclusively coined by winegrowing like the region between Bingen and Nierstein. About one third of the agricultural area is cultivated with vines, more than 26000 ha. Thus, Rhine-Hesse is Germany’s biggest winegrowing area. Except three villages, every borough grows vine.

Mueller-Thurgau accounts for 19 per cent of the vineyards, Silvaner for 11 per cent and Dornfelder for 10 per cent. The rest is divided among Riesling, Bacchus, Scheurebe, Portugieser, Morio-Muskat, Late Burgunder, Huxelrebe, Ortega and Siegerrebe. The vine-breeding institute Alzey developed several new vine varieties, e.g. Scheurebe and Dornfelder.

Quality-orientated vintagers focus on growing Riesling. One of the best Rieslings grows on the Rotliegenden at Nierstein and on the extreme slopes of the so-called red slope (Roter Hang).

Main vine varieties: Mueller-Thurgau (19%), Silvaner (11%), Dornfelder (10%).