Ahr Flashcards
What is the nearest major city?
Bonn
To the north 30 minutes
List the major grapes grown in Ahr
Red (84.4%)
Spatburgunder: 364 ha
Fruhburgunder: 37 ha
Portugieser: 32 ha
Riesling (15.6%), 46 ha
What body of water are the vineyards in Ahr located on?
Ahr River
Both sides but best sites are on the north bank
What river does the Ahr River feed into?
Where?
Rhine River
Heimersheim
What is the high end of the slope grade in Ahr?
60-70 degrees
What bereiche are the vineyards of Ahr located in?
Walporzheim-Ahrtal
Name a Grosslagen in Ahr
Klosterberg
What are the two sub regions of Ahr?
Where are they divided?
Upper Ahr
Lower Ahr
Upper is west of Walporzheim, Lower is east
Describe the Lower Ahr
East of Walporzheim
Basalt-derived clay on top of slate
Warmer - AVG 10 day earlier haverst
Riper wine
Describe up the Upper Ahr
West of Walporzheim
Nearly pure slate soils
Phylloxera is nonexistent
Contains a few 100 year old vineyards trained in a single post style
List the major village west to east
1.Altenahr
2. Mayschoss
3. Rech
4. Dernau
5. Marienthal
6. Walporzheim
7. Ahrweiler
8. Bad-Neuenahr
9. Heppingen
10. Heimersheim
What was the style of Ahr wines before the 1980s
Closer to rose
Off-dry
Blended with Blauer Portugieser
Who led the style change in Ahr in the 1980s and how?
Meyer-Nakel
Emphasized dryness
Longer macerations
Aging in French oak
What clones were used and now used today?
Dijon clones and new clones from Geisenheim replaced Swiss Mariafeld clones and German clones designed for yield and hardiness
What parallel is Ahr on?
Just north of 50
- East-West orientation creates south facing aspect
- Benefits from the Gulf Steam which carries between England and France, through Belgium towards Germany
- Growing season is longer than Mittlerhein or the Mosel
- The whole region is a canyon protected from wind and rain
- Sits below Eifel Mountains in a rain shadow providing higher sunlight hours
- Drier weather helps to prevent botrytis
Is whole-cluster common in Ahr?
No because stems often remain green
Is Chaptalization allowed in Ahr?
Yes
“We can’t be Öchsle fetishists,” retorts Jean Stodden. “We need ripeness, not sugar. We are so far north; you can always add sugar.”
What is Fruhburgunder?
Known as Pinot Noir Precoce in France
- Difficult to grow
- Harvested two weeks before Spatburgunder
At that time it is the only ripe berry in the region, making it a target for wasps and birds so it requires netting - Susceptible to millerandage
- Thicker skins than Spatburgunder with more color but less acidity
- Fruit flavors become concentrated and liqueur-like
Who is this producer and what village is Pfarrwingert in?
Meyer-Nakel
Dernau
Who is this producer and what village is Krauterberg in?
Meyer-Nakel
Walporzheim
Who is this producer and what village is Sonnenberg in?
Meyer-Nakel
Bad-Neuenahr
Who is this producer and what village in Silberberg in?
Meyer-Nakel
Ahrweiler
Who is this producer and what village is Monchberg in?
Jean Stodden
Mayschoss
Who is this producer and what village is Herrenberg in?
Jean Stodden
Rech
