Ahr

The Ahr wine-growing region is the northernmost wine-growing region in Germany. It is named after a western tributary of the Rhine. The Ahr Valley is located in the north of Rhineland-Palatinate along the Ahr between Altenahr and Heimersheim. In the north it borders directly on North Rhine-Westphalia. In some sections, the vineyards reach almost to the river and in some places leave little room for traffic.

85% of the red wine varieties are grown in the Ahr. The Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) dominates with around 61% of the vineyard area, followed by 8% Portuguese, 6% Frühburgunder, 4% Dornfelder and 3% Regent. Among the white wine varieties, Weißer Riesling leads with 7.5% and Müller-Thurau with 2.5%.

Wine growing in this northern location is due to several factors. The fact that the Ahr flows in an easterly direction in its lower reaches, and this means that southern slopes are available for winegrowing, the "mountain ranges" of the Eifel and the High Fens, which ensure more hours of sunshine on their leeward side.

In the lower region between Walporzheim and Heimersheim, loess loam soils mixed with weathered stone prevail. On the steep terraces, soils, rocks and vineyard walls made of slate and greywacke store the sun's heat, give it back to the vines at night and thus create a mild, Mediterranean microclimate with relatively high temperatures.

The Ahr wine-growing region covers 552 hectares of vineyards. The only area is called Walporzheim-Ahrtal, which consists of the only large Klosterberg site with a total of 43 individual sites.