Location in the Rheingau
Assmannshausen is a district of Rüdesheim am Rhein in Hesse. The town lies directly on the Rhine at the north-western edge of the state and belongs to the Rheingau. The local wine-growing area covers around 75 hectares.
Steep vineyards and soils
The vineyards rise steeply behind the settlement above the Rhine. The single-vineyard site Assmannshäuser Höllenberg is oriented to the south to south-west and has slope gradients of 30 to 60 percent. Its soils consist of stony, coarse-grained slate with proportions of loess clay and weathered Taunus quartzite. The slate stores solar heat and thereby keeps the root zone of the vines warm on cold nights.
Microclimate and grape variety
Sun-exposed slopes and the adjacent Rhine shape a local microclimate. The river has a balancing effect and reflects heat. Within the Rheingau, which is predominantly shaped by Riesling, Assmannshausen is oriented towards red wine; the Spätburgunder, the German name for Pinot Noir, is the town’s most important grape variety.
Wine-growing tradition
The wine-growing tradition has been documented since the founding of Assmannshausen in 1108. The cultivation of Spätburgunder at the Assmannshäuser Höllenberg can be traced back to the 13th century. The site is listed as an officially registered single-vineyard site in the Rheingau wine sites register. Documented vinification practices for Assmannshausener Spätburgunder include extended maceration as well as maturation in large wooden casks or small barriques.
