Location and landscape
Bacharach lies on the Rhine in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley and forms part of the wine-growing region Mittelrhein. The vineyards stretch along a deeply cut Rhine gorge with steep terraces and smaller, V-shaped side valleys.
Climate and soils
The Middle Rhine is one of the warmer wine regions in Germany. At around 50 days a year, at least 25 °C are reached; during the growing season, around 615,000 Wh/m² of direct sunlight is given. Slate shapes the soils of the Bacharach vineyards, including Hunsrück and Devon slate. On the Rhine island Insel Heylesen Werth, there is fertile, sandy alluvial soil.
Grape varieties and wine style
Riesling dominates the Middle Rhine with around 70 percent of the plantings, while Spätburgunder accounts for around 10 percent. For Bacharach, Scheurebe and Spätburgunder are also documented on the cultivated terraces, as well as Riesling on the island of Heylesen Werth. Dry Riesling is one of the defining wine styles; slate sites are associated with pronounced acidity and minerality. The Bacharacher Posten is also documented for semi-dry Riesling Auslesen.
History of the wine-growing town
The name Bacharach was first mentioned in writing in 1019 or 1020. Later, the town gained in importance through Rhine tolls, intensive viticulture, wine production and wine trading. Its location at the point where wine was transferred between smaller and larger ships at the Binger Loch due to shipping conditions helped favour medieval wine trade.
