The iconic bottles that define Rheinhessen: what they are, who makes them and what they cost.

Iconic bottles of Rheinhessen

G-Max Riesling ★ 5.0

kellerstill-whiteRieslingapproachable from 5, cellar 10 to 30EUR 600 to 1200 at retail

Allocation-only micro-cuvee dry Riesling from Klaus-Peter Keller on a single calcareous Wonnegau parcel.

Tasting notes: Micro-cuvee dry Wonnegau Riesling on a single calcareous parcel at Dalsheim, allocation-only since the 2001 first vintage. Source: keller-wein.de.

Nackenheimer Rothenberg Riesling Grosses Gewaechs ★ 4.9

gunderlochstill-whiteRieslingapproachable from 4, cellar 8 to 25EUR 60 to 100 at retail

Dry Grosses Gewaechs from the Nackenheimer Rothenberg red-slate cliff, bottled by Johannes Hasselbach.

Tasting notes: Johannes Hasselbach's dry GG from the Nackenheimer Rothenberg red-slate cliff above the Rhine, the Gunderloch family Roter Hang anchor. Source: gunderloch.de.

Rothenberg Wurzelecht Riesling ★ 4.9

gunderlochstill-whiteRieslingapproachable from 6, cellar 15 to 40EUR 80 to 130 at retail

Ungrafted pre-phylloxera Riesling from a Rothenberg red-slate parcel, bottled by Johannes Hasselbach.

Tasting notes: Hasselbach's ungrafted pre-phylloxera Riesling from a Rothenberg red-slate parcel, a cellar-collector bottling with deep yellow fruit and tertiary smoke. Source: gunderloch.de.

Hubacker Riesling Grosses Gewaechs ★ 4.9

kellerstill-whiteRieslingapproachable from 5, cellar 10 to 30EUR 90 to 160 at retail

Dry Grosses Gewaechs from the Hubacker limestone-loam slope at Dalsheim, made by Klaus-Peter and Felix Keller.

Tasting notes: Klaus-Peter and Felix Keller's dry GG from the Hubacker limestone-loam slope at Dalsheim, Stueckfass-aged with a long saline finish. Source: keller-wein.de.

Morstein Riesling Grosses Gewaechs ★ 4.9

kellerstill-whiteRieslingapproachable from 6, cellar 12 to 35EUR 110 to 200 at retail

Dry Grosses Gewaechs from the Westhofener Morstein limestone hill, built for long cellaring.

Tasting notes: Klaus-Peter and Felix Keller's dry GG from the Westhofener Morstein limestone hill, with dense yellow fruit and a long saline finish. Source: keller-wein.de.

Rothenberg Wurzelecht Riesling Grosses Gewaechs ★ 4.9

kuehling-gillotstill-whiteRieslingapproachable from 6, cellar 15 to 40EUR 95 to 150 at retail

Ungrafted old-vine GG from the Nackenheim Rothenberg red slate, biodynamic Kuehling-Gillot's Roter Hang anchor.

Tasting notes: Ungrafted old-vine dry GG from the Nackenheim Rothenberg red slate at biodynamic Kuehling-Gillot, dense and salty with an iron-tinged finish. Source: vdp.de.

Pinot Noir Grande Reserve ★ 4.9

vdpsektgut-raumlandsparkling-traditionalPinot Noirapproachable from 8, cellar 12 to 25EUR 90 to 140 at retail

Blanc-de-Noirs Sekt aged over a decade on lees at Volker Raumland's house, deeply autolytic and very long.

Tasting notes: Blanc-de-Noirs traditional-method Sekt at Raumland with more than a decade on lees, deeply autolytic and very long. Source: vdp.de.

Triumvirat Grande Cuvee ★ 4.9

vdpsektgut-raumlandsparkling-traditionalPinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blancapproachable from 6, cellar 10 to 18EUR 70 to 110 at retail

Pinot-Chardonnay-Weissburgunder traditional-method Sekt with long lees ageing, the flagship Grande Cuvee at Raumland.

Tasting notes: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Weissburgunder traditional-method Sekt with long lees ageing at Raumland, the flagship Grande Cuvee. Source: vdp.de.

Morstein Riesling Grosses Gewaechs ★ 4.9

wittmannstill-whiteRieslingapproachable from 5, cellar 12 to 30EUR 75 to 110 at retail

Biodynamic dry GG from deep limestone at Westhofener Morstein, made by Philipp Wittmann.

Tasting notes: Philipp Wittmann's biodynamic dry GG from deep limestone at Westhofener Morstein, dense and saline with chalky structure. Source: weingutwittmann.de.

Frauenberg Riesling Grosses Gewaechs ★ 4.8

battenfeld-spanierstill-whiteRieslingapproachable from 4, cellar 8 to 22EUR 45 to 70 at retail

Biodynamic dry GG from Hohen-Suelzen, drawn from deep-limestone parcels at Nieder-Floersheim.

Tasting notes: Hans Oliver Spanier's biodynamic dry GG from deep-limestone parcels at Nieder-Floersheim, the Hohen-Suelzen Frauenberg house style. Source: battenfeld-spanier.de.

Rothenberg Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel ★ 4.8

gunderlochdessert-noble-rotRieslingapproachable from 8, cellar 20 to 50EUR 70 to 130 at retail (half bottle)

Botrytised Auslese Goldkapsel from the Rothenberg red-slate, bottled by Gunderloch for long cellaring.

Tasting notes: Botrytised Auslese Goldkapsel from the Rothenberg red-slate, the Gunderloch Roter Hang sweet-Riesling reference. Source: gunderloch.de.

Pettenthal Riesling Grosses Gewaechs ★ 4.8

schaetzelstill-whiteRieslingapproachable from 4, cellar 8 to 22EUR 50 to 75 at retail

Demeter-certified Pettenthal dry GG from Kai Schaetzel, taut with iron-grip salinity and a long spicy finish.

Tasting notes: Demeter-certified Pettenthal dry GG from Kai Schaetzel, taut with iron-grip salinity and a long spicy finish. Source: vdp.de.

Pettenthal Riesling Grosses Gewaechs ★ 4.8

st-antonystill-whiteRieslingapproachable from 4, cellar 8 to 22EUR 50 to 75 at retail

Demeter-certified Pettenthal dry GG at St. Antony under Dirk Wuertz, dense and saline with iron-grip minerality.

Tasting notes: Demeter-certified Pettenthal dry GG at St. Antony under Dirk Wuertz, dense and saline with an iron-grip mineral spine. Source: vdp.de.

Heerkretz Riesling Grosses Gewaechs ★ 4.8

wagner-stempelstill-whiteRieslingapproachable from 4, cellar 8 to 25EUR 40 to 65 at retail

Dry GG from porphyry-and-slate Siefersheim at the Nahe border, made by Daniel Wagner.

Tasting notes: Daniel Wagner's dry GG from porphyry-and-slate Siefersheim at the Rheinhessen-Nahe border, taut and chiseled with deep mineral grip. Source: vdp.de.

Brunnenhaeuschen Riesling Grosses Gewaechs ★ 4.8

wittmannstill-whiteRieslingapproachable from 5, cellar 10 to 25EUR 60 to 85 at retail

Biodynamic GG from Gundersheim limestone at Wittmann, smokier and iodine-tinged with a salt-edged mineral spine.

Tasting notes: Biodynamic GG from a different Gundersheim limestone facies at Wittmann: smokier, iodine-tinged and salt-edged. Source: weingutwittmann.de.

Morstein Spaetburgunder Grosses Gewaechs ★ 4.7

gutzlerstill-redSpaetburgunderapproachable from 4, cellar 8 to 18EUR 45 to 70 at retail

Spaetburgunder GG from the Westhofener Morstein limestone-marl hill, made by Michael Gutzler.

Tasting notes: Spaetburgunder GG from the Westhofener Morstein limestone-marl hill at Gutzler, aged in French Burgundy barrels. Source: gutzler.de.

Pares Spaetburgunder Grosses Gewaechs ★ 4.7

j-neusstill-redSpaetburgunderapproachable from 4, cellar 8 to 18EUR 45 to 70 at retail

Ingelheim Spaetburgunder GG from J. Neus, aged in French Burgundy barrels with a dark-cherry register.

Tasting notes: Pares Spaetburgunder GG from J. Neus, the Ingelheim Pinot Noir flagship aged in French Burgundy barrels with a dark-cherry register. Source: weingut-neus.de.

Hoelle Riesling Grosses Gewaechs ★ 4.7

thoerlestill-whiteRieslingapproachable from 4, cellar 8 to 20EUR 40 to 60 at retail

Saulheimer Hoelle Riesling at Thoerle: chalk-driven mid-palate with smoky lift and a long finish.

Tasting notes: Saulheimer Hoelle Riesling at Thoerle: taut chalk-driven mid-palate, smoky lift and long finish under Stueckfass ferment. Source: weingut-thoerle.de.

Tafelstein Silvaner ★ 4.4

brueder-dr-beckerstill-whiteSilvanerapproachable from 1, cellar 3 to 8EUR 22 to 32 at retail

Demeter-farmed Tafelstein Silvaner from Brueder Dr. Becker on the limestone-loam slope above the Rheinterrasse.

Tasting notes: Demeter-farmed Tafelstein Silvaner from Brueder Dr. Becker on the limestone-loam slope above the Rheinterrasse, with a herbal-stony register. Source: brueder-dr-becker.de.

Westhofener Riesling Ortswein ★ 4.3

wittmannstill-whiteRieslingapproachable from 2, cellar 4 to 12EUR 22 to 30 at retail

Biodynamic Westhofener village Riesling at Wittmann, a house-style introduction at Ortswein-tier price.

Tasting notes: Village Riesling at Wittmann blending biodynamic parcels around Westhofen, partly Stueckfass-fermented for a house-style introduction. Source: weingutwittmann.de.

Silvaner Roter Hang ★ 4.2

schaetzelstill-whiteSilvanerapproachable from 1, cellar 3 to 7EUR 17 to 23 at retail

Roter Hang Silvaner at Schaetzel: green-apple core, almond grip and red-slate salinity under Demeter farming.

Tasting notes: Roter Hang Silvaner at Schaetzel: restrained green-apple core, almond grip and savoury salinity from the red slate, Demeter-certified. Source: vdp.de.

Signature Wines in Rheinhessen, FAQ

When is the best time to visit Rheinhessen for wine?

Peak wine-travel season in Rheinhessen is spring through autumn, with harvest the standout window.

Do I need an appointment to taste at Rheinhessen estates?

classified-growth and grand-cru estates require booking days to weeks ahead; smaller family domaines often take walk-ins midweek.

What hours do Rheinhessen cellars and tasting rooms keep?

most estates open 10:00 to 17:00 by appointment, often closed Sunday and Monday.

How does tipping work at Rheinhessen tastings?

tipping is not expected at tastings; buying a bottle from the cellar door is the customary thank-you.

What is the one wine to try in Rheinhessen?

If you only open one bottle, open G-Max Riesling by Weingut Keller. It is the wine most associated with Rheinhessen.

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