Bacharach & Oberwesel

Bacharach and Oberwesel form the core of Mittelrhein winegrowing in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002. Here the Rhine runs through a narrow gorge in the Rhenish Slate Mountains; castles such as Stahleck in Bacharach and the Schönburg in Oberwesel rise above the villages, and the Loreley follows downstream. The sites include Bacharacher Hahn, Posten and Wolfshöhle, the St. Jost in Steeg and the Oberweseler Oelsberg.

The vineyards stand on steep terraces of Devonian clay slate and quartzite. The dark slate stores heat, the river reflects additional light onto the slopes, and the gorge shelters from wind. The climate is cool overall but sufficiently warm for Riesling on the steep slopes.

Riesling is the dominant variety and yields taut, mineral wines with clear acidity. Spätburgunder and Müller-Thurgau complete the range. Well-known producers include Toni Jost, Ratzenberger, Fritz Bastian and Lanius-Knab; the Mittelrhein is Germany's second-smallest wine region.