The Nahe region is named after the river that traverses the valleys of the forested Hunsrück Hills as it gently flows toward Bingen on the Rhine. It is a peaceful landscape of vineyards, orchards and meadows interspersed with cliffs and striking rock formations. The wine-growing region on the Nahe and the tributaries Glan and Alsenz has 2,000 years of wine-making tradition. Protection against cold winds by the high Hunsrück, mild temperatures and lots of sunshine create an excellent climate for winegrowing in this sunny valley with low-rain.
Although the Nahe is one of the smaller German wine regions, its extraordinary range of soil types is second to none. This is because of its turbulent geological history. For this reason, the region is able to grow a range of varieties and produce a large diversity of wine styles.
The steeper sites of volcanic or weathered stone, and those with red, clayish slate seem predestined for elegant, piquant Riesling wines of great finesse and a light spiciness. More than a quarter of the vineyard area of 4239 hectares is planted with it. Flatter sites of loam, loess and sandy soils yield lighter, fragrant Müller-Thurgau (Rivaner) wines with a flowery note, whilst Silvaner thrives in a number of soils and produces full-bodied, earthy wines. Pinot Gris and Blanc are being increasingly cultivated. Dornfelder and Pinot Noir also find a good home here.
German State | Rhineland-Palatinate
Temperature | Mild
Sunlight | Sunny
Rain | Low
Wind | Low
Area | 4,239 ha
Districts | 1
7 Collective Vineyard Sites | 7
Individual Sites | 300+
Igneous | Volcanic
Sedimentary | Sandstone, Clay,
Limestone
Metamorphic | Slate
White Grapes | 76.2%
Red Grapes | 23.8%
Riesling | 29%
Müller-Thurgau | 12%
Pinot Gris | 8.2%
Pinot Blanc | 7.4%
Dornfelder | 9.7%
Spätburgunder | 6.7%