Rheingau (wine region)


Image:Johannisberg [Rheingau.jpg|thumb|250px|Schloss Johannisberg is one of the best known historical important domaines in Germany. It is famous as an early adopter of the Riesling grape varietal, and as the site where the German form of noble rot was discovered by accident.]
Rheingau is one of 13 designated German wine regions producing quality wines (QbA and Prädikatswein). It was named after the traditional region of Rheingau, the wine region is situated in the state of Hesse, where it constitutes part of the Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis administrative district. Although making up only 3 percent of the total German vineyard area, Rheingau has been the source of many historically important innovations in German wine making, and contains many wine producers of international reputation, such as Schloss Johannisberg. Rheingau, with of vineyards in 2016, also boasts a higher proportion of Riesling than any other German wine-growing region, with Spätburgunder making up most of the rest, followed by Müller-Thurgau.
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Geography and terroir

[Image:ErbachMarcobrunnStareAuffliegen2OberleitungRechteRheinstrecke.JPG|thumb|Erbacher Marcobrunn, surrounded by vineyards]
The geography of the Rheingau is very distinct. Around Wiesbaden, the river Rhine detours from its northward flow west for about 30 km before it flows north again. The greater part of the Rheingau is situated here on the river's right bank, but the region also includes the stretch along Rhine after it turns northward again, around the villages Assmannshausen and Lorch. The vineyards in Hochheim on the Main river are also included, just before it flows into Rhine. The Rheingau spans about 50 km from end to end. North of the Rheingau rises the Taunus mountain range, so most of the Rheingau's vineyards are on south-facing slope between hills and streams, which provides excellent wine-growing conditions in these northerly latitudes.

History

Image:Eberbach Abteikirche so.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Eberbach Abbey was built by the Cistercian monks who founded much of the Rheingau wine industry, and the buildings still house a wine cellar of the Hessian state winery and are used for wine auctions.
[Image:Eberbach wine cellar.jpg|thumb|right|250 px|Old wine cellar at Eberbach Abbey]
Since the Verona donation in 983, the Rheingau belonged to the archbishopric of Mainz. Legend has it that Charlemagne let the first vineyards be planted in the region, close to present-day Schloss Johannisberg. However finds like a Roman origin grapevine cutting knife point to even earlier cultivation. Better documented is the early influence of the church on Rheingau winemaking, which was controlled from Eberbach Abbey. Augustinians and Benedictines are known to have inhabited the area of the later abbey from 1116, and in 1135 the Cistercians arrived, sent out from Clairvaux. Legend has it that the Cistercians, which are also credited with having founded the wine industry in Burgundy, brought Pinot noir with them to Rheingau, although the earliest record of the grape variety in Rheingau is from 1470. The slopes down from the Taunus mountains belonging to Eberbach Abbey were planted as vineyards in the 12th century, and early in the 13th century the vineyards had reached their present area. In medieval times, more red than white wine was produced, usually as Gemischter Satz, i.e. the vineyards were planted with mixed varieties which were vinified together.
In 2011 it was unveiled, that the Official Wine Classification in the Rheingau has a 150 years history. The classification was the basis for taxation of wineries after the annexation of the Duchy of Nassau by the Kingdom of Prussia in 1866. In the book Der nassauische Weinbau published in 1867 by Friedrich Wilhelm Dünkelberg a historical map Weinbau-Karte des nassauischen Rheingaus, all known vineyards at that time had been marked up by colour, evaluated and classified in first class vineyards, second class vineyards and the remaining vineyards.
As first class vineyards only 13 Lagen in 9 boundaries had been classified:

Villages and producers

[Image:German Vineyard.JPG|thumb|Vineyards close to Rüdesheim, collectively known as Rüdesheimer Berg, as seen from the opposite side of the Rhine]
Some villages of Rheingau, listed in the downstream direction of Rhine, with some notable vineyards and producers.

Grape varieties

The most cultivated grape varieties, by area in 2019, were: