📍 Ahr

Ahr is a German protected designation of origin (PDO) for quality wine (Qualitätswein), Prädikatswein, Sekt b.A. and Qualitätsperlwein from the Ahr valley in Rhineland-Palatinate (file PDO-DE-A0867; eAmbrosia entry dated 18 September 1973). According to the product specification, the Ahr makes mainly red wines, and traditionally also rosé and white wines, which may be used for sparkling wine too.

The PDO covers the vineyards of seven municipalities in the district of Ahrweiler: Ahrbrück, Altenahr, Dernau, Grafschaft, Mayschoß, Rech and Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler. The specification says that vines grow along about 18 km of the river between Altenahr and Bad Neuenahr, that 69 % of the vineyards lie on slopes steeper than 30 %, and that the soils are mostly greywacke sandstone and clay slate of the Lower Devonian, with river terraces covered by loess.

Permitted white varieties include Riesling, Weißer Burgunder, Müller-Thurgau, Chardonnay and Kerner. Red and rosé varieties include Blauer Spätburgunder, Blauer Frühburgunder, Dornfelder, Domina, Portugieser, Regent and Cabernet Sauvignon. The maximum yield is 100 hl/ha.

Every wine must carry a traditional term such as Qualitätswein, Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese or Eiswein. The minimum must weight for Qualitätswein is 65 °Oechsle for Spätburgunder and Frühburgunder and 55 °Oechsle for Riesling. Prädikatswein may not be enriched; Qualitätswein may be enriched up to 15 % vol. Sekt b.A. made by bottle fermentation must mature at least 9 months on the bottle.