Assmannshausen VDP estate specialising in dry Spaetburgunder from the red-slate Hoellenberg, with polished, age-worthy Pinot Noir alongside Ruedesheim Riesling.
Tip: The Assmannshaeuser Hoellenberg Spaetburgunder is the wine to find; book at the estate vinothek directly to taste the dry Pinot range in context.
Address: Lorcher Strasse 16, 65385 Ruedesheim-Assmannshausen, Germany, Rheingau
Johannisberg estate focused on dry Spaetburgunder and Chardonnay from Lorch and Assmannshausen sites, a rare Rheingau Pinot-and-Chardonnay specialist.
Tip: Chat Sauvage's Lorcher Schlossberg Spaetburgunder is the cellar pick; the Chardonnay is a rare Rheingau take on the variety.
Eltville-based estate founded in 2006, working certified-organic, steep-slate Riesling from the Lorcher Krone and Schlossberg at the western end of the Rheingau.
Tip: The Lorcher Krone and Schlossberg trocken Rieslings show Fricke's slatey western-Rheingau style; allocations are small, so order at release.
Floersheim-Wicker family estate on the eastern Rheingau, working the historic Wickerer Stein and neighbouring sites for dry Riesling and Spaetburgunder.
Tip: Try the Wickerer Stein Riesling GG and the dry Spaetburgunder side by side to read the Main-side terroir of the eastern Rheingau.
Small Erbach family estate working historic Marcobrunn and Steinmorgen parcels, with classical dry Rieslings and Spaetburgunder at insider prices.
Tip: Visit the small estate vinothek to taste the Marcobrunn Riesling, the historic single site that sits right by the gates of Kloster Eberbach.
Erbach VDP estate working organic-certified Marcobrunn and Kiedrich parcels, with classical dry Riesling and Spaetburgunder away from the tourist trail.
Tip: Knyphausen's Erbacher Marcobrunn GG sits beside the more famous Robert Weil and Kuenstler bottles at a friendlier price; ask for it in the vinothek.
Hattenheim VDP family estate working the village classic sites including Nussbrunnen and Wisselbrunnen for modern dry Riesling and Spaetburgunder.
Tip: The Rheinallee vinothek runs casual flights; order the Hattenheimer Nussbrunnen and Wisselbrunnen GGs together to compare the village sites.
