Next to the Mosel Riesling, the Rheingau Riesling is undoubtedly Germany's best-known wine internationally. Yet it is often overlooked how little of it there is. With 3,100 hectares of vineyards, the Rheingau is only in the middle of the German wine growing regions. On the other hand, the Rheingauers rely entirely on quality varieties; nearly 80 percent of the vineyards are planted with Riesling, 12 percent with Pinot Noir - the latter variety especially in the traditional red wine stronghold of Assmannshausen with its slate soils. Soils on phyllite slate also have the best reputation for Riesling: these are found in Lorch and on the Rüdesheimer Berg, but also in the Steinberg, in Rauenthal and in the famous Kiedricher Gräfenberg. The best wines from such vineyards combine the typical steeliness of Rheingau Riesling with a mineral polish. A curiosity are the vineyards in Hochheim and the surrounding area, which are not located on the Rhine at all, but on the Main. Nevertheless, they belong to the Rheingau in terms of wine geography.
