Rheinhessen Wines

As the largest wine producing region in Germany with a quarter of the country's vineyards, Rheinhessen is best known for its production of Liebfraumilch and Hock. It is located between Rheingau, Nahe and Pfalz, with a warm, dry climate well suited to volume wine making. The main grapes are Riesling and Muller-Thurgau for whites and Dornfelder for reds.

Whilst still home to many major German wine brands and bulk winemaking, there are some quality areas in the region worthy of recognition. The Rheinterrasse has steep slopes and makes good quality Riesling with some ripe fruit flavours. Within the Rheinterrasse itself is also a small strip called the Roter Hang. It is distingusihed by Rotliegenden soils, red and iron-rich, that give Riesling a distinct smoky character. To the south of the Rheinhessen, an area called the Wonnengau has also gained a reputation for Riesling and Spatburgunder.