Nahe

The Nahe wine region is one of Germany’s 13 wine regions, known primarily for its Riesling grape varietals. In fact, Riesling now accounts for 27.2% of all wine produced in the Nahe region, more than twice as much as the next closest wine varietal (Müller-Thurgau, at 13.3%). Other popular wine varietals from Nahe include Dornfelder (11.0%), Silvaner (10.0%), Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir. The split between white wines and red wines is approximately 75% to 25%.

The Nahe region is located along the River Nahe, which flows into the Rhine. Officially, Nahe is part of the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate.  Rich volcanic soils in the region help to account for the superior quality of the region’s wines. The Nahe region is subdivided into three smaller regions: the Upper Nahe, Bad Kreuznach, and Lower Nahe. In addition, the different valleys along the path of the river help to create different microclimates for growing grapes.

While the winemaking tradition of this region dates back to the ancient Roman era and existence of wine villages along the Nahe river have been recorded since the year 778, it was not until 1971 that Nahe was officially recognized as a unique wine region by German wine law.

Nahe might not be as well known as neighboring regions such as Mosel (located just 40 kilometers away), but Rieslings from the region have become increasingly known for their distinctive taste and flavor. Previously, grapes from Nahe were blended along with other German wine grapes and known collectively as “Rhine wine.”

Here is a brief audio guide on Nahe wine region. Check it out.