Location and landscape
Oberwesel is a wine town on the Rhine, located in the wine-growing region Mittelrhein. The town lies in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, which is part of the UNESCO cultural landscape Upper Middle Rhine Valley. The vineyards extend over steep slopes and historically terraced areas.
Climate and soils
The climate in the Middle Rhine Valley benefits from protection against cold winds, ample sunshine and the warming, reflective influence of the Rhine. The south-facing Oelsberg has a mild microclimate. The soils of the region consist mainly of clayey slate and greywacke; in the Oelsberg, loess clay and multicoloured sandstone also occur.
Viticulture and grape varieties
Viticulture in Oberwesel includes steep-slope sites in which hand work and hand-harvesting are required. This applies, among other places, to the Oelsberg and the Bernstein belonging to the neighbouring district of Engehöll, which is characterised by brown and grey slate. Riesling is the most important grape variety in Engehöll. For a documented Oberwesel winery, a breakdown of vineyard area of 85 percent Riesling, 10 percent Spätburgunder and 5 percent white and grey Burgundies is given.
Wine style and history
Mineral Rieslings from dry estate wines through to select bottlings and ice wine, as well as Riesling sparkling wine, are documented from Oberwesel. Winemaking includes gentle processing of the grapes, slow must fermentation and a longer maturation tailored to the wine. According to the town’s information on tourism, Oberwesel looks back on a 2,000-year history of viticulture; the steep slopes of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley have been terraced for wine-growing for more than 1,000 years.
