If one comes the Rhine up and crosses the border of Aßmannshausen after Rüdesheim, one enters the Rüdesheimer vineyards first in the vineyard "Berg Schloßberg" (mountain castle mountain).
Originally the vineyard "Berg Schloßberg" enclosed only the vineyards around the castle "Ehrenfels". The castle was established 1211 by Philipp von Bolanden by order of the Mainz archbishops to the elevation of the Rhine duty.
Therefor the position was unique predestined. The only driving channel was on the right Rhine side below the castle between the cliffs of the "Binger Loch" and the steady towpath for the ships Rhine up towing draft horses. In the Middle Ages the castle counted as impregnable and was repeatedly the shelter site for bishop and cathedral treasure. 1689 it was destroyed by the French in the "pfälzischen" war of succession.
Still in our time the vineyards were around the "Ehrenfels" - the castle - as the Rüdesheimer say, one of the most inaccessible areas and in some parts only accessible by donkey's paths. So, one may suppose that the vineyards were put on there only after the vineyards "Berg Rottland" (around 864) and after the vineyard "Bischofsberg" (around 1064) with the development of the area by the construction of the castle (around 1200).
Around the castle "Ehrenfels", in the area of the today's vineyard "Berg Schloßberg", there was a row of the architectural structures which gave the name to the vineyard positions surrounding them: the "Backschild" directly behind the castle, the "Zollhaus" directly on the Rhine, the "Brunnen" in the "Burgweg" and the "Zingießer" with the most precipitous rock, towered above by the "Hauptmann" and the "Mühlstein" as an anchorage of the Rhine mills.
The "mountain" is very precipitous with up to 60 degrees inclination, directed directly after the south. The grounds are deep-middle grounded, stony from weather-beaten quartzite slate, the solar warmth storing. The radiation amount and light amount is the highest - in the Rhine region unequalled. The position is unthreatened from late frosts and well bebreezed. It is an ideal endowed Riesling location.
Originally the vineyards were founded in hundreds smallest terraces up the mountain. Only in laborious manual labour the works were to be mastered. This would have signified on a continuing basis the end for this top position of the German wine-growing.
The hall settlement during the 1970-1985 years was the rescue. Driving ways were put on, the vineyards were straightened between ample terrace walls. Now the fields can be cultivated with caterpillars or rope hoists but still to almost twice as high cultivation costs as at level positions.
The Riesling wines of the vineyard "Berg Schloßberg" have an unmistakeable character. The acid distinguishes itself almost during all years by an extremely fine-polished kind full in nuances. The wines are very lasting and thoroughbred. During very dry years the vine suffer from water shortage. Then they do not reach the high Öchsle-grades like other vineyards. Nevertheless, this finds a balance in higher spice in the wine. Because of this character the wines from the vineyard "Berg Schloßberg" are rather wines for lovers and experts
If one walks from the vineyard "Berg Schloßberg" next on half a height in the direction of Rüdesheim, comes as next to the vineyards of the "Berg Roseneck" (mountain rose corner).
The today's vineyards applies between the vineyard "Berg Schloßberg" which stretches directly on the Rhine and the vineyard "Drachenstein" under the Niederwald.
In the core of the area step out the granite rocks covered with wild roses, rose hips and sloe hips which gave the name "Rosenhecke" (Rose hedge) to the surrounding vineyards. The area was "offe dem Berg" (on the mountain), as it mentioned around 1200 first while the construction the castle "Ehrenfels" the opened areas were named.
The "mountain" is in this segment strongly jointed. He begins with a rocky incision good as gulch, the " Katerloch" (tomcat's hole), there was put on only in 1717 the first vineyard. He continues more over the 1356 first mentioned " Dachsloch" (badger holes) and further "with the " Hellpfad" (bright path), known since 1205, and the "Eichenbäumchen" (small oaken tree). In this area the mountain has the biggest upward gradient. Further in the direction of Rüdesheim the mountain forms on half a height a levelly inclined step on which itself considers the "Platz" (place) - 1335 mentions first - and as well as the "Paares" (pair). The vineyard "Berg Rosenek" ends with the "Spess" and the "Ramstein", which concludes the vineyard position with a prominent cliff head to the east. Also these position names are known already since 1200.
The vineyard encloses therefore two of slope inclination and grounds different areas. On the western one, the Rhine directly leaned towards precipitous slope, step more middle grounded an in some parts stony and dry Taunus quartzite grounds out. They store the solar warmth in the highest measure. Here grow very slender wines with high extracts, but low yields.
On the eastern level-inclined half-high slope certains middle loam to deeply grounded loess loam the grounds. Here grow wines with stronger acid.
Partly by the Rhine nearness the light amounts and warm amounts are unmatched in the vineyard "Berg Roseneck" - like in the whole area of the Rüdesheimer mountain - in to the Rheingau region. The position is unthreatened from late frosts and the optimum of bebreezeing.
The summarized judgment of the location investigation of the Hessian regional authorities for ground research is for cultivation talent for Riesling (" Die Standortkartierung der hessischen Weinbaugebiete ", Wiesbaden in 1967): " Very well to excellently ". An appreciation which is reached only in the "Hochheimer Kirchenstück". This are really "Grand Cru" positions.
Also here in the vineyard "Berg Roseneck" were founded over long time the vineyards build up in hundred smallest terraces up the mountain. Only about 1700 the hemline paths were removed and ways with mountain-sided walls were built. This area has been saved through the hall settlement from in 1970-1985 by the construction of fixed driving ways and ample terrace arrangements before the social fallow. Because of this the vineyards are farmable with rope hoist or caterpillar but still with the highest costs loaded.
But the trouble is worthwhile. The Riesling wines of the vineyard "Berg Roseneck" belong always to the most slender points of every volume. A varied flowery play joins to the thoroughbred acid. The wines are long-lasting and win every year in delicacy.
Thanks of the best of all small-climatic conditions, there prosper here also during normal years the finest "Spätlesen" (late vintage wines) from which by diligence and patience noble "Auslesen" (selections), "Beerenauslesen" (berries wine of selected grapes) and "Trockenbeerenauslesen" (dry berries wine of selected grapes) can be won. However, the yields are uneconomical low almost and exceed rarely 7,000 l / ha.
Thus the Riesling wines of the Rüdesheimer mountain "Berg Roseneck) are a real rarities, which one sees rare, about which, however, the lover and expert must know.
The Rüdesheimer "Berg Rottland" is in his original circumference, actually, before the Rüdesheimer mountain. It applied in the inclined to the south slope to the west of the company Asbach below the cliff head Ramstein.
The name of the area - from middle age germanen word: rotten, ruoden = clearing - is probably immediate lead back on a done donation of the Mainz archbishop Bardo to the inhabitant in the years 1031 - to 1051, with which he left fallow land to the clearing for the cultivation of vine to the Rüdesheimer and Eibinger to winegrowers. The archbishop Heinrich I. of Mainz transferred 1143 to the tenths from this to him as a board good of prekept area to the Saint Viktorstift to Mainz. This tenth was sold at the beginning of 18th century to the count of Ingelheim and was lifted in 1841 by the duke of Nassau.
The vineyard "Berg Rottland" is since 1970extended by the vineyard settlement to the east by the vineyard "Hinterhaus" (house at the back) - 1287 first mentioned - and the vineyard "Steinkaut" - probably earlier a stone pit.
To the north the vineyard "Wilgert" - a wild garden and to northwesterly the vineyard "Linngrub" situated on a level hilltop - was covered since 1200 - and the vineyard "Kronnest" = middle age: Crow's nest, was included.
To the west the vineyard "Berg Rottland" was separated against the vineyard "Berg Schloßberg", by the vineyard "Stumpfenort" (dull place) = dull corner, where the real Rüdesheimer mountain begins directly on the Rhine.
The vineyard encloses therefore, in the western an area situated directly on the Rhine up to a height of max. 100 ms of climbing up southern precipitous slope; further in the central area a gentle hollow seal opening after the south; further to the east a slope inclined to the south to behind the houses of Rüdesheim
The grounds exist of stony, dry slate grounds, quartzite grounds and gravelly soils in some parts covered light with loess. The vineyard is nearly unthreatened from late frosts and has a good always drying up bebreezing. The light amounts and radiation amounts belong to highest in the Rheingau region.
Thus has been the western part of the vineyards on the Rhine, the core in the concave mirror behind the company Asbach, the eastern area behind the houses by Rüdesheim classed after judgment of the location investigation of the Hessian regional authorities for ground research for the cultivation talent for Riesling as "excellent", up to the lowest exceptions - unique in the Rheingau. Even the northern edge areas are classified as "very good". Really - "Grand Cru" vineyards!
In this approx. 37 ha including area the winegrowers grow exclusively Riesling vine. Here they place always on late vintage, to grant the grapes still the last maturity. The noble decay is promoted by the special small climate in this location in special masses.
Thus the winegrowers also harvest during normal years fine to the finest late vintage wines from which by care, patience and diligence can be also won the noblest Auslesen (selections), Beerenauslesen (wine of selected berries) or Trockenbeerenauslese (wine of selected dry berries). For ice wines is here no space.
The wines harvested in the vineyard "Berg Rottland" reach to the biggest maturity, with fineness shadeed balanced acid and great harmony. By the noble decay they often show the "Schwänzchen" (little tails) - Rüdesheimer oral kind, that quality which marks the long inspiring departure. Up to 1th world war the wines from the vineyard "Berg Rottland" belong to the most expensive white wines of the world.
The hall settlement in the 50s removed only in the western area the terrace arrangements and built new fixed driving ways. The principal item and the eastern area remained basically untouched. Thus arose here also no changes in the ground structure by elevations.
The dry grounds and the vine aiming at the highest quality permit only one low first slice. The average yield often lies less than 7,000 l / ha and is loaded with twice as high cultivation costs like in the level vineyards.
However, the here to winning pieces of art of the Riesling cultivation rewards winegrowers, lovers and experts always recompense anew, with real inimitable rarities.
While the vineyards "Berg Schloßberg", "Berg Roseneck" and "Berg Rottland" traditionally named and become with the concept Rüdesheimer mountain, the vineyard "Bischhofberg" (bishop's mountain) belongs to the Rüdesheimer upper field. This is the whole area around Rüdesheim which is not added to the "mountain".
In the upper field can certainly the vineyard "Bischhofberg" be called the oldest and most distinguished vineyard. The original area with name "Bischhofberg" has lain directly super half of the old part of the town of Rüdesheim.
1074 the archbishop Siegfried von Mainz has approved to the Rüdesheimer subjects a tax subsidy, and leave to them that stoned to death and vacant land to the cultivation and to arrangement vineyards and ordered to distribute that land among them. The payment in kind as a tax to the Mainz treasury lay substantially under the usual tenth of the yield. - a real investment promotion!
With the vineyard settlement of 1970 vineyards of the same kind came to the vineyard "Bischhofberg" even farther from the ground, slope inclination, height and south position:
The "Krachbein" (noise leg), directly super half to the vineyard "Berg Rottland" situated.
Over that laying next the "Gessel ", around 1200 mentioned first, with which a vineyard is called which leading along to one "gazza" - a lane, a driving way - leading along in to the mountain and to Assmannshausen one. Around 1335 is also found a name "Dibegesselen " which points, actually, to highwayman, namely on to a thief's path.
West northern it still joins the "Sonnenberg" (solar mountain), presumably a substantially later clearing.
To the east the vineyard "Bischhofsberg" becoming finished originally from the "Kuhweg" (cow's way). On this hollow way between the vineyards one did the cattle to the "Ebental" (level valley) and the "Ochsenwiese" (ox's meadows), on the "Taunus" back, because in the valley only vine were grown and the Rhine meadows were not sufficient for the pasture.
Further to the east the area leads by the deeply cut narrow ditch "Engergraben", a water run which shows the natural town limitation with wall and ditch in the town area and flows into the Rhine. Today he is built over and carries the highway to the "Niederwald".
This today about 34 ha around catching area is a slope vineyard levelly inclined after the south. As an enlarged, earlier primeval times riverbed of the Rhine deep grounded loess depositions rule there. As the first level step under the "Niederwald" drove the vineyard sufficient humidity.
With this the vineyard "Bischhofsberg" is the most fertile vineyard at Rüdesheim. She is dependable in quantity, but also in quality. As a result of the Rhine nearness and the slope position she receives enough radiation amounts late frost is barely endangered and well bebreezed. In short the vineyard is belong the judgment of the location investigation of the Hessian regional authorities for ground research for the cultivation talent predicated as "well" for Riesling cultivation. - a qualification which is equally to the "Hattenheimer Steinberg" or "Rauenthaler Baiken".
The Rüdesheimer winegrowers grow in this area particularly Riesling. However, other type of grapes are also found like Ehrenfelser, Kerner or Müller Thurgau. They bring excellent results on this good location too.
The wine quality of the vineyard lies always about the average of the upper field. Thanks of the humidity wines rich in body are harvested with thoroughbred. acid. During dry years, however, very full and ripe wines.
While in the Rüdesheimer mountain particularly the big, old goods are prosperous, the vineyard "Bischhofsberg" is traditionally the native country of the smaller and middle winegrowers. This nicest reveals herself by the activity on sunny reading week-ends in autumn.
If in the Rüdesheimer mountain with risk pieces of art of the Riesling are generated, the "Bischhofsberg" is the good-quality, carrying base for the Rüdesheimer winegrowers.
Like the vineyard "Bischhofsberg", also the vineyard "Drachenstein" (kite stone) belongs to the Rüdesheimer upper field.
The "Drachenstein" concludes the Rüdesheimer vineyards upwards to the Niederwald. The vineyards rise here up to a height of 280 ms.
One can assume, that this area was cleared after the development of the vineyard "Bischhofsberg", thus in the 12th century.
The name-giving vineyard "Drachenstein" drags itself around highly half of the vineyard "Bischhofsberg" all around the so-called "Kreuzberg" (cross mountain), a mountain hilltop which lifts out itself strikingly from the Rüdesheimer ridge and on which 1928 of a youth hostel was built. In the east the vineyards are concluded by the deeply cut "Engergraben " (narrow ditch), at which the motor road leads along up to the "Niederwald". There is a small rock which could have given the name to the area. By the vineyards settlement in 1970 farther vineyards with different slope inclination, height and grounds came to the "Drachenstein".
Thus joins to the west the "Kreuzberg" (cross mountain) which is mentioned around 1104 first. Here is a cross mountain chapel which was a purpose of the Rüdesheimer entreat processions with which the winegrowers prayed during the day of the ice-holy for good weather.
Under this area the vineyards "Stauch" (Compressing) and the "Hochmauer" (high wall), by which the route of the rack railway built in 1884 moved to the Niederwald. It joins further the vineyard "Sonnenberg" (solar mountain).
Below the national monument the "Germania" and about the vineyard "Berg Roseneck" follows the old vineyards "Frenz ", "Geisberg" up to the corner point of the Rüdesheimer ridge the vineyard "Leingipfel ".
In this area have traditional winegrower from the wine village Aulhausen - above Assmannshausen conveniently - her possession. It is also the area in which during earlier years almost exclusively the grape type "Orleans" was grown. After the legend Karl of the majorities should have this grape type brought to the Rheingau. Today she has disappeared.
The area encloses 48.5 ha and is a slope position inclined after the south. It is the upper riparian zone of the primeval times Rhine. In the west slates are meddle grounded loess-containing sandstone-, clayey-, quartzite-grounds, in the east are sandy, loess-containing depositions. Because of the slope inclination the position is rather dry and has good to optimum of sun radiation ammount. In spite of the height no late danger of frost exists. Belong the judgment of the location investigation of the Hessian regional authorities for ground research for the cultivation talent corresponds the vineyard the same Riesling-cultivation talent like the Rheingauer height vineyards "Johannesberg" - with the exception of the "Schloßberg" -, "Vollrads", "Hallgarten" and "Kiedrich".
In this area particularly Riesling is grown, but also Spätburgunder, Ehrenfelser and Müller Thurgau.
The wines from the"Drachenstein"are rich in body and have mostly a strong acid. Wines from this vineyard is suited excellently as a sparkly wines. During dry, hot years full ripe wines are also harvested here.
Traditional the "Drachenstein" is in the property of many smaller and middle winegrowers who generate here particularly the pint wines for her "Straußwirtschaften" (bunch economies = special kind of restaurants).