MAIN Wine Europe Germany Mittelrhein, Middle Rhine

Stahleck Castle at Bacharach, in the heart of the Middle Rhine wine growing region.

This region, 'The Middle Rhine", begins just below Bonn and reaches south for about 60 miles.

The Mittelrhein is a scenic region known for its steep, terraced vineyards covered with Riesling, Müller-Thurgau and Kerners grape vines.

Like many other sections of the Rhine valley, the vine-covered hills are often crowned with castles and ruins from historic battles that have been fought over this valuable stretch of real estate through the centuries.

The village of Bacharach (photo, above) has been the heart of the Middle Rhine since the Middle Ages. Today, both banks of the peaceful Rhine River contribute grapes to the wines from this region. Here, white wine grapes are more frequently grown than almost anywhere else in Germany.

The wine from the Middle Rhine -- from the clayish slate soil of the steep hills -- is fragrant, with fruity overtones and high acidity which tends to produce wines that age well such as the world famous Reislings of the region.

More information about Middle Rhine wines around the Web:

Mittelrhein - Reisling & Romance - A description of the area is followed by the vital statistics... geography, climate, grapes varieties, wine types and more, including when to visit annual wine festivals.

The Middle Rhine Valley - This section of the Rüdesheim official site focuses on the Middle Rhine as a World Heritage spot. Along with a discussion of the wines and the history of the region, there are pictures and coverage of the area from a tourism perspective. There is also a listing of wine growers in the area with information on when they are open for public wine tastings.