Location and Landscape
Baiken is the Rauenthaler Baiken wine site in the Rauenthal district of Eltville am Rhein in the Rheingau. It lies in a bend at the foot of the Rauenthaler Berg near the Sulzbach. The south to south-west facing slope reaches an incline of up to 20 per cent; individual areas are given as up to 60 per cent.
Climate and Soils
The south to south-west exposure ensures intensive sunshine during the day. At night, cool air from the Taunus forests flows into the wine site. The soils consist of weathered phyllite slate, quartzite and loess clay; grey, weathered clayey slates are also described, as well as medium- to deep-rooted phyllites.
Grape Variety and Wines
As a classified grape variety, Riesling is designated. Wines from Baiken are described as having mineral acidity and a variety of aromas. Documented are dry Riesling VDP.ERSTE LAGE® and Riesling Spätlese VDP.ERSTE LAGE®; the 1.5-hectare upper parcel Baikenkopf is used for Riesling VDP.GROSSE LAGE®.
History and Classification
Wine holdings on the Rauenthaler Berg have been documented since the 13th century. The Prussian government acquired Baiken and Gehrn in 1900. The name Baiken goes back to the Old High German word “bougen”, which denotes a bend or a bending. In the Hessian wine sites directory, Baiken is listed as a single site in the Rauenthal cadastral area; the VDP classifies the site as VDP.ERSTE LAGE® with 12.47 hectares.
