Rheinhessen
The largest wine-growing area of Germany . Located in the " Rhine 's sharp bend" between Mainz , Bingen, Alzey, and Worms . The rivers Selz and Primm pass through its Soft hilly landscape. Extensive production of wine, also for the sparkling wine industry. Most known export bestseller is probably the "Liebfraumilch".
. While vines are virtually a monoculture in the Rheingau or along the Mosel , they are but one of many crops that share the fertile soils of this region's vast farmlands. Steep vineyard sites are confined to small areas near Bingen and south of Mainz along the Rhein Terrace. Varied soils and the favourable climate make it possible to grow many grape varieties, old and new. In fact, many of Germany 's aromatic, early-ripening new crossings were bred in Rheinhessen by Professor Georg Scheu, after whom the Scheurebe grape is named (pronounced "shoy"). The region boasts the world's largest acreage planted with the ancient variety Silvaner and is the birthplace of Liebfraumilch, the soft, mellow white wine originally made from grapes grown in vineyards surrounding the Liebfrauenkirche, or Church of Our Lady , in Worms . Rheinhessen wines are often characterized as being soft, fragrant, medium-bodied and mild in acidity pleasant, easy-to-drink wines. There are also wines of great class and elegance, with a depth and complexity second to none.
The first vineyard in Mainz was around 20 BC. Wine-growing and wine trade in Rhine-Hesse flourished already in the 8th century. The cultivation of Riesling in 1511 in Pfeddersheim is verified by documents. In the middle Ages it was regarded as " Europe 's winepress".
In 2001 the region of Rheinhessen which has 26.296 ha under vine produced 2.401.967 hectolitres of grape must which gives a yield of 95,4 hectolitres per hectares this was split into 0,3 % table wine 43,9 % QbA wine and 55,8 QmP wines.
Geographical location:
The Rhine Valley , bordered on the west by the Nahe River and on the north and east by the Rhine .
Major town(s): Mainz , Worms , Alzey, Bingen.
Climate:
Mild. The region is ringed by protective hills and forests: in the west, the forested, hilly countryside known as Rheinhessen's Switzerland ; in the north, the Taunus Hills; in the east, the Oden Forest . Few precipitations. Still relatively cold winters with increasing distance from the Rhine River since a temperature-balancing water surface is missing.
Geology:
Mostly loess, especially in the Wonnegau and in the Alzey area. Otherwise rich, chalky marl soils with a high share of clay.
Loess, limestone and loam, often mixed with sand or gravel, are the main soil types. Rotliegendes is a red, slatey-sandy clay soil in the steep riverfront vineyards of Nackenheim and Nierstein and near Bingen, there is an outcropping of quartzite-slate
