The best wines from Mittelrhein in Germany

Mittelrhein is a small German wine region, right on the Rhine and quite far north, near Bonn. It is one of the smallest wine regions in Germany. The grapes benefit from the heat that remains in the narrow valleys on the steep slopes along the Rhine. The wine is mainly made from Riesling. These have a lot of minerality and character thanks to the slate and quartz that you find in the soil here.

Impressive cliffs along the Rhine, charming medieval villages and fairytale castles on the slopes. And beautiful wines with lively acidity and a sparkling minerality that is especially typical of the Rieslings from this region.

We are talking about Mittelrhein. A vast area along the Rhine between Bingen and Bonn. With 456 hectares of vines, it is one of the smallest wine-producing areas in Germany. And it is even a shrinking region. The steep, narrow slopes are very labor-intensive and not without danger to work on.

But the winegrowers who do not shy away from a challenge benefit from the heat that remains in the narrow valleys. In addition, nothing stands in the way between the sun and the vines on the slopes. Together with the cooling effect of the Rhine, this is an ideal 'meso-climate'. The winters are mild, spring starts early, the summers are warm and provide sufficient rainwater and autumn likes to last. Not only good for the vines but also for the many tourists who like to buy a bottle of wine directly from the farmer.

And there is a good chance that it is a Riesling. Mittelrhein is known for its Rieslings; ripe, delicate aromas and pronounced tones of minerality. The minerality of the Riesling comes mainly from the soil. This consists largely of slate, ‘grauwacke’ (a type of sandstone with quartz) and in the north, volcanic rock. In the background we find wines from Müller-thurgau, Kerner and Weissburgunder. Spätburgunder represents the blue grape varieties. Also go very well with reading the fairy tales that come from this region.