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Geographic Location: Western Germany, ca. 45 min west of Frankfurt/Main
Wines from Germany’s Nahe region
Sun-drenched hills, deep valleys and grapes on the vine…
The sunny south-western region of Germany where the Nahe river flows into the Rhine near Bingen is a paradise for gourmets and walkers alike, with its famously good food and top-class white wines. This region is sheltered by the Hunsrück hills and has the ideal climate for wine growing: mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine. The grapes ripen early and the wine develops pleasant acidity which makes it the ideal accompaniment to traditional local fare Spiessbraten (onion-marinated and flame-grilled steaks), which originated here, features in many guises on the menus of award-winning restaurants.
Map: Area around Bingen
From Martinstein, the Rhine-Nahe Wine Trail follows an idyllic route through the vineyards, along dramatic valleys, passing quaint towns, imposing medieval castles and sleepy wine-growing villages. It also takes in beautiful natural features such as Rotenfels rock face and Trollbach valley.
The sunny south-western region of Germany where the Nahe river flows into the Rhine near Bingen is a paradise for gourmets and walkers alike, with its famously good food and top-class white wines. This region is sheltered by the Hunsrück hills and has the ideal climate for wine growing: mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine.
Vines flourish on extremely steep slopes so all this exercise in the fresh air will certainly whet the appetite for a glass of Nahe wine and a hearty snack. Hungry walkers are always welcome at the numerous wine growers‘ taverns along the way. More than 4,000 hectares of shale, terraced loess, chalk and clay soils are under vine, and over 70 per cent of the wines produced are white. As well as crisp rieslings and fresh müller-thurgaus, full-bodied silvaner wines have also gained a reputation for their soft acidity.
Scheurebe, kerner and bacchus grape varieties are also grown on the Nahe and in recent years winemakers have also been successful with pinot blanc and pinot gris.
The Nahe Wine Route (Nahe Weinstrasse)
The 130-kilometre Nahe Wine Route, which opened in September 2008, links the region‘s highlights: 35 wine-growing villages, numerous castles and beauty spots such as Rotenfels rock face and Trollbach valley.
It starts in Bingerbrück and continues to Martinstein via Wallhausen, Bockenau and Monzingen, taking in Meddersheim, Staudernheim, Bad Münster am Stein/Ebernburg and Bad Kreuznach on its return route. There are new signs and display boards as well as a recently printed folding map with lots of tourist information.
„Tuscany on the Nahe“, a former Prussian wine estate
Niederhausen-Schlossböckelheim Wine Estate, a gem of the Nahe wine region, is set amid vine-clad hills in the most beautiful section of the Nahe valley. Its distinguished history dates back to 1901 when it was founded by the Prussian state as a model winery to promote wine production in Germany on land once used for a copper mine. At that time, the land was wooded, craggy and riven with cracks, but by 1903, 300,000 cubic metres of earth had been shifted to enable vines to be planted. The first harvest in 1907 produced a very dry, young wine (83 on the Oechsle scale).
However, over the years the Prussian government‘s estate became the model on which viticulture in the Nahe region was based. The present owners have restored the historical buildings with style and charm. The old pressing room has been converted into a wine shop with a function room that can be hired for wine tasting, Christmas parties and other occasions. Since 1998, holiday makers have been able to stay in the former director‘s house where there are six guest rooms with magnificent views of the Nahe river.
External Resources
Official Website Weinland Nahe (www.weinland-nahe.de), only on German language.
Check out their map of the region: www.weinland-nahe.de/unsere-nahe/lage/
