The wine region of the Ahr is one of the smallest regions of Germany. It is located just north of the Mosel and named after the small river of the Ahr, which streams from the Eifel Mountains towards the Rhine River.
Due to its location, we can find a medium continental climate with sunny, warm summers. But along certain vineyards, the meso climate can even reach a mediterranean style! The region has had vines cultivated there since the Roman times.
It is one of the most northern regions in the world that concentrates on the production of red wines. The focus however will be on fruity, elegant and herbaceous wines mainly coming from the Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) and Portugieser grapes. The Dornfelder and Frühburgunder increases in popularity as well. White grapes are a minority here, with Riesling and Muller- Thurgau as being the most planted. A lot of the vineyards are situated just at the riverbanks, the best ones on the left facing south.
The slate soil that retains heat is a big factor that improves the ripening of the delicate red varieties. This results in a strong minerality and structure in the wines. Due to the steepness of the soils, all the grapes must be handpicked, which will increase the quality even further. There is only one district or Bereich in the region and that is the Walporzheim Ahrtal. From there only one Grosslage (collection of vineyards) and 14 Einzellagen (separate vineyards) are of significance. Most of the high quality will be focussed on the Spätburgunder grapes, with wines that can be compared to even the likes of Burgundy! These type of wines go easily with any game dish, with or without the subtle touch of sauerkraut!
Discover more from Gettinghotforwine
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
