Location and Climate
Rüdesheim lies on the right bank of the Rhine at the western end of the Rheingau, forming the southern gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Upper Middle Rhine Valley. The vineyards stretch along steep slopes facing south towards the Rhine. The Rüdesheim Berg is noted for particularly high levels of sunshine.
The Rheingau is characterised by dry, warm summers and mild winters. The Taunus promotes rain-shadow conditions and limits the outflow of cold air at night towards the vineyards. For the period 1991 to 2020, a mean annual temperature of 11.0 °C, annual precipitation of 526.5 millimetres and around 1,701 hours of sunshine are given.
Soils and Vineyards
The steep vineyards of Rüdesheim comprise slate and Taunus quartzite. These rocks store solar heat and contribute to the mineral acidity of the wines. The Rüdesheim Berg Schlossberg reaches a slope gradient of up to 70 percent. Its skeletal-rich quartzite and slate soils are used to produce wines that display pronounced Riesling acidity.
The south-facing Rüdesheim Berg Roseneck has a slope gradient of 33 percent. Its soils range from extremely stony, medium-deep areas to deeper loess clay; the wines produced from this are associated with ripe acidity and ageing potential. The Rüdesheim Berg Rottland is protected by its proximity to the Rhine and has deep loess clay soils. The associated wines are described as ripe, with fruity acidity.
Grape Varieties and History
Riesling and Spätburgunder are the most important grape varieties of Rüdesheim. Viticulture has been documented since the 3rd century AD. Evidence of this can be found in a Roman pruning knife near Brömserburg as well as wine glasses from Merovingian-Frankish graves. The Rheingau is also linked to the historical development of the German Prädikate Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese.
Georg Breuer Winery
The Georg Breuer Winery was founded in 1880 and has been in family ownership since the beginning of the 20th century. It cultivates around 40 hectares in the Rheingau, around 65 percent of it in steep sites, and works organically. The vineyards consist of approximately 85 percent Riesling, 10 percent Spätburgunder and 5 percent Pinot Gris, Orleans, Heunisch and Weißburgunder. In the cellar, the winery combines traditional methods with precise work, including ageing in barriques and in historic vaulted cellars.
