WineGuessrWine region · Germany
Rheingau wine
The Rheingau is a German wine region in Hesse where the Rhine flows west for about 30 km, giving south-facing slopes below the Taunus mountains. Riesling covered 2,441 of its 3,207 ha of vineyards in 2023 (76%), and Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) is the main red.
| Country | Germany |
|---|---|
| Vineyard area | About 3,207 ha (2023) |
| Climate | Cool, sheltered by the Taunus and warmed by the Rhine |
| Main grapes | Riesling, Pinot Noir |
| Key appellations | Rüdesheim, Johannisberg, Hattenheim, Kiedrich, Hochheim am Main, Assmannshausen |
| Wines on WineGuessr | 5 |
History
Around 1100 the archbishop of Mainz gave the hill at Johannisberg to Benedictine monks, and in about 1135 Cistercians arrived and founded Eberbach Abbey, which became the centre of regional winemaking; Pinot Noir is documented in the Rheingau from 1470. From 1720 Schloss Johannisberg was planted almost entirely with Riesling, and it claims to be the world's oldest Riesling vineyard. According to tradition, in 1775 the courier carrying permission to harvest arrived late, the grapes caught noble rot, and the resulting wine established the Spätlese, or late-harvest, style. In 1816 the estate was given to the Austrian chancellor Metternich. Today it covers 35 ha.
Terroir and appellations
In the Rheingau, the Rhine turns west for about 30 km before flowing north again, so the Rheingau's vineyards face south across the water, with the Taunus mountains behind them sheltering the slopes from cold north winds. This position helps grapes ripen at a northern latitude. In 2016 the Rheingau held about 3% of Germany's vineyard area. Its best-known villages include Rüdesheim, home of Rüdesheimer Berg Schlossberg, Johannisberg, Hattenheim with the Steinberger vineyard, Kiedrich with Kiedricher Gräfenberg, and Assmannshausen. Hochheim, on the Main east of the Rhine, gives Hochheimer Domdechaney.
Grapes and wine styles
Riesling is the defining grape, with 2,441 ha or 76% of the vineyards in 2023. Like those of the Mosel, Rheingau Rieslings are made in every style from dry to the sweet Prädikat levels such as Spätlese, Auslese and Trockenbeerenauslese. Spätburgunder, the German name for Pinot Noir, covered 12.2% of the vineyards in 2016 and is the main red grape. Noble rot, the fungus behind the Spätlese story, also allows the region to make sweet wines in favourable years. See the Germany page for the national classification.
5 wines from Rheingau on the map
- Hochheimer DomdechaneyGrosse Lage · Hochheim am Main, Rheingau · White10.5 ha
- Kiedricher GräfenbergGrosse Lage · Kiedrich, Rheingau · White11 ha
- Rüdesheimer Berg SchlossbergGrosse Lage · Rüdesheim am Rhein, Rheingau · White
- Schloss JohannisbergPrädikatswein · Geisenheim (Johannisberg), Rheingau · White50 ha
- SteinbergerGrosse Lage · Eltville am Rhein (Hattenheim), Rheingau · White
Rheingau wine: questions and answers
What grape is the Rheingau known for?
The Rheingau is known for Riesling, which covered 76% of its 3,207 ha of vineyards in 2023. Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) is the main red grape.
Where did Spätlese originate?
Tradition places the origin of Spätlese at Schloss Johannisberg in the Rheingau in 1775, when a late harvest permit let the grapes develop noble rot and the resulting wine proved exceptional.
Is Hochheim in the Rheingau?
Yes. Hochheim am Main, on the Main river east of the Rhine, belongs to the Rheingau wine region and is home to vineyards such as Hochheimer Domdechaney.
Why does the Rheingau face south?
The Rhine detours west for about 30 km, so the vineyards on its northern bank face south toward the sun, with the Taunus mountains behind them.
Other wine regions of Germany
All wine regions →Sources: deutscheweine.de, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org
Last reviewed October 2026.