📍 Rheingau

Rheingau is a wine district in the state of Hesse that stretches about 50 km along the right bank of the Rhine from Frankfurt through Wiesbaden to Lorch. It has 3,117 ha of vines (2025), of which 2,355 ha are Riesling, about three quarters of the area. The name Rheingau has been protected in the EU since 18.09.1973, and since 1775 Johannisberg monastery has been linked with the start of late harvesting.

Near Wiesbaden the Rhine turns almost at a right angle to the west and flows in that direction for about 30 km to Rüdesheim, so most slopes face south. The Taunus hills hold back rain: average temperature 10.6 °C, rainfall 582 mm, 1,603 hours of sun a year (1971–2000). Soils are loess and loess loam on terraces, phyllite, and quartzite further downstream.

About 85 % of the area is under white varieties and 15 % under red (2010); Spätburgunder covers about 390 ha, especially near Assmannshausen. There are 129 single vineyards (Einzellagen); the maximum yield is 100 hl/ha. Under the specification, a white Spätlese must have at least 85° Oechsle (11.4 % vol), and a Riesling Auslese 95° (13.0 %). The «Erstes Gewächs» classification marks wines from first-rank sites. Well-known places are Eberbach Abbey and the research institute in Geisenheim.

Why it matters to you. On a Rheingau label look for Spätlese, Erstes Gewächs and the name of the single vineyard. Spätlese is a level of grape ripeness, not necessarily a sweet wine.