Mittelrhein
Styles
Principal grape varieties
Accessory grape varieties
AccentAcolonAlbalongaAllegroArnsburgerAuxerroisBacchus (Bacchus Weiss)Baron (Cabernet Franc)BlauburgerBlauer FrühburgunderBlauer Limberger (Blaufraenkisch)Blauer Portugieser (Portugieser Blau)Blauer Silvaner (Pinot Noir)Blauer Trollinger (Schiava Grossa)Blauer Zweigelt (Zweigeltrebe Blau)BlütenmuskatellerBoleroBronnerCabaret NoirCabernet BlancCabernet CantorCabernet CarbonCabernet CortisCabernet CubinCabernet DorioCabernet DorsaCabernet MitosCabernet SauvignonCalandroCalardis BlancCalardis MusquéChardonnayDakapoDeckrotDominaDonaurieslingDunkelfelderGm 6414-39 (Ehrenbreitsteiner)EhrenfelserFaberrebeFeliciaFindling (Bouvier)FreisamerFrüher Malingre (Malingre Precoce)Früher Roter Malvasier (Veltliner Fruehrot)Färbertraube (Gamay Teinturier De Chaudenay)Gelber Muskateller (Muscat A Petits Grains Blancs)Goldmuskateller (Moscato Giallo)GoldrieslingGrüner Silvaner (Silvaner Gruen)Grüner Veltliner (Veltliner Gruen)HegelHelfensteinerHelios B.HeroldrebeHibernalHuxelrebeHölderJohanniterJuwelKanzlerKerner B. (Kerner)KernlingMerlotMerzlingMonarchMorio MuskatMuscarisMuskat Ottonel (Muscat Ottonel)Muskat Trollinger (Muscat Hamburg)Müller Thurgau (Mueller Thurgau Weiss)MüllerrebeNeronetNoblingOptima 113 (Optima)OrionOrtegaOsteinerPalasPerlePetite Arvine (Arvine Petite)PhoenixPinotinPirosoPrinzipalPriorRebergerRegent N. (Regent)RegnerReichensteinerRondoRosa Chardonnay (Chardonnay Rose)Rosenmuskateller (Tamjanika Crna)Roter Elbling (Elbling Rot)Roter Gutedel (Chasselas Rose)Roter Muskateller (Muscat A Petits Grains Rouges)Roter Riesling (Gewuerztraminer)Rubinet (Jacquere)Ruländer (Pinot Gris)SaphiraSauvignacSauvignon BlancSauvignon CitaSauvignon GrisSauvignon SarySauvitageSavagnin BlancScheurebeSchönburger (Schoenburger)SeptimerSiegerrebeSilcher (Heunisch Weiss)SiriusSolarisSouvignier GrisSt. Laurent (Saint Laurent)StauferSyrahTauberschwarzTrebbiano Di Soave (Verdicchio Bianco)VillarisWeißer Burgunder (Pinot Blanc)Weißer Elbling (Elbling Weiss)Weißer Gutedel (Chasselas Blanc)WildmuskatWürzer
Terroir
Natural factors
- In the Mittelrhein valley, Devonian rocks dominate geologically: quartzitic sandstones and clay slates, with subordinate iron- and chert-nodule slates.
- Around Königswinter, Tertiary volcanics occur: trachytes, trachytic tuffs, basalts, and latites as evidence of former volcanic activity.
- The dominant soil types on Devonian Schiefer are brown earths (Braunerden) and Regosols; on Löss and Lösslehm, para-brown earths (Parabraunerden) are widespread.
- Mean annual temperature 9.7 °C, growing-season mean 14.2 °C; average annual precipitation 665 mm, approximately 60% of which falls during the growing season.
Human factors
- Centuries of winemaking tradition characterise the Mittelrhein; Steillage sites limit mechanisation and demand a high level of manual labour.
- Qualitätssekt b. A. requires an early harvest to achieve a pronounced acidity; when produced by bottle fermentation, a minimum of 9 months' ageing on the bottle is required.
Product characteristics
- Intensive vineyard management promotes aromatic expression and acid harmony; Steillage sites limit mechanisation and demand a high level of manual effort.
- For Sekt b. A., grapes are harvested earlier in order to achieve a pronounced acid structure; bottle fermentation requires a minimum of 9 months' ageing.
Terroir / wine link
- Steillage sites, Devonian Schiefer, and an extended mesoclimate together shape the aromas, acid harmony, and natural alcohol of Mittelrhein wines.
Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.
Sources
- Specification (EUR-Lex, single document)
- eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-DE-A1269
- Official trade body site — Mittelrhein-Wein e.V.