What I Learned:

Of all the German states, Rheinland Pfalz has the most wine regions. And of all the German wine regions, the Rheinhessen wine region is the largest. Situated on the left/west bank of the Rhine, between roughly Worms and Mainz, it extends away from the river to as far west as Alzey-Weinheim, itself about 25 kilometers from the Rhine. In total, Rheinhessen vines cover approximately 26,000 hectares/65,000 acres.

The area round Ingelheim is known for its Spaetburgunder, or Pinot Noir. Most recent figures from the German Wine Institute show that white varietals represent about 63% of all cultivated vineyards, not unsurprising in a country where Riesling is king. However, more red varietals are being planted as the years pass, and of these, Spaetburgunder, Pinot Noir, leads the way with an impressive 11.5% of all red varietals in cultivated vineyards.

The old town of Ingelheim is famed for its Spaetburgunder wine. Its vineyards stand as an island of red in a sea of white grapes in Germany’s Rheinhessen Wine Region.

Some of the famous vineyards are Gau-Algesheim’s Goldberg, and outside Ingelheim there are the Schlossberg, Sonnenhang, Burgberg, Kirchenstuck, and the Ingelheimer Taeuscherpfad, Pares and Horn. In the town, at only 2500 square meters, there is the Ingelheimer Sonnenberg, now a protected site due to its old age, and good quality Spaetburgunder grapes.

 

What I Tasted:

2012 Spaetburgunder Pares, VDP Grosse Lage, Trocken, Qualitaetswein, Weingut J. Neus (Ingelheim): A dry red wine with medium minus garnet red color; vegetal nose, with dried cherry, vanilla and oak flavors; medium minus tannins.

2012 Spaetburgunder, Ingelheimer Sonnenhang, Trocken, Deutscher Qualitaetswein, Wasem (Ingelheim): A dry red wine with dark purple color; a spicy and slightly fruity nose, with vanilla, leather, slightly smoky flavors; well-balanced with medium plus tannins.

2012 Spaetburgunder, Horn, VDP Grosse Lage, Trocken, Qualitaetswein, Weingut J. Neus: A dry red wine with medium minus garnet red color; a rich nose of honey, with hints of spice and smoke, and flavors of honey, vanilla, smoke and dried red berries; very smooth, with medium tannins.

2011 Spaetburgunder, Ingelheimer, Trocken, Qualitaetswein, Weingut Knewitz (Appenheim): A dry red wine with medium light red color; spicy nose, with cherry and smoky flavors, smooth, long finish.