Ahr Flashcards
Ahr
Predominately red production, small region.
Ahr
diminutive German wine region of 563 ha/1,391 acres in 2013 specializing in red wine and named after the river which flows east from the hills of the Eifel to join the Rhine near Remagen (see map under germany). The most westerly vineyards are in dramatic, rocky, wooded scenery near Altenahr, where the steep slopes on either side of the river reach up to 300 m/980 ft above sea level, and sometimes narrow to the dimensions of a gorge. Many are covered in slate as well as basalt and clay-rich greywacke, well suited to spätburgunder (pinot noir). The region lies between 50 and 51 degrees of latitude, so that a good mesoclimate is needed to ripen the grapes. Most of the best sites face south east to south west (see topography). The dark soil (see soil colour), the reflected heat from the curious rock formations, and the protection from north winds that blow above the valley intensify summer warmth. Spätburgunder has gained ground steadily and for most of this century has been planted on more than 60% of the vineyard area. portugieser, frühburgunder, and rieslingeach represent 6–8% of plantings, the last favouring slate soils and evincing tropical fruit character similar to that encountered in the mittelrhein. The Ahr used to be known for soft, late-picked, medium-sweet Spätburgunder but today’s typical Ahr wine is a fully fermented, dry, oak aged, tannic Spätburgunder of good colour from low-yielding vineyards. Almost 80% of the region’s grape harvest is processed by four co-operative cellars, and the state of Rheinland-Pfalz owns the largest estate, 18.5 ha/46 acres based on the 13th-century Kloster Marienthal. A small collection of privately owned estates has enjoyed increasing demand and prestige in the wake of Germany’s 1995–2005 red-wine boom.
Ahr – 560ha
o Northern part of the country; viticulture possible thanks to dark volcanic soils and historical reasons.
o Small region; predominantly red production (85%)
Ahr
Bereiche: Walporzheim-Ahrtal
Grosslagen: Klosterberg
Major Villages (west to east): Altenahr, Mayschoss, Rech, Dernau, Marienthal, Walporzheim, Ahrweiler, Bad-Neuenahr, Heppingen, Heimersheim
Total Hectares Under Vine: 563 ha (Source: Statistisches Bundesamt, 2013)
Principal Grape Varieties: Red Grapes (84.4%) - Spätburgunder: 353 ha - Portugieser: 32 ha - Frühburgunder: 37 ha White Grapes (15.6%) - Riesling: 46 ha
Leading Producers: Meyer-Näkel (Dernau), Jean Stodden (Rech), Weingut Deutzerhof - Cossmann-Hehle (Mayschoss), J.J. Adeneuer (Ahrweiler)
Ahr: Riesling
Kabinett: 76 Ochsle Spatlese: 80 Auslese: 88 BA/ Eiswien: 110 TBA: 150
Ahr: Muller- Thurgau
Kabinett: 76 Ochsle Spatlese: 80 Auslese: 88 BA/ Eiswien: 110 TBA: 150
Ahr: Pinot Blanc
Kabinett: 76 Ochsle Spatlese: 80 Auslese: 88 BA/ Eiswien: 110 TBA: 150
Ahr: All Other White Grapes
Kabinett: 76 Ochsle Spatlese: 87 Auslese: 93 BA/ Eiswien: 110 TBA: 150
Ahr: Acolon (red crossing)
Kabinett: 80 Ochsle Spatlese: 85 Auslese: 93 BA/ Eiswien: 110 TBA: 150
Ahr: All Other Red Grapes
Kabinett: 80 Ochsle Spatlese: 85 Auslese: 90 BA/ Eiswien: 110 TBA: 150
Ahr
The tiny Ahr Valley in north-central Germany is one of the anomalies—free electrons—of the wine world. Located at 50° latitude at the very outer limit where Vitis vinifera can be grown, over 80% of the grapes planted here are red and Pinot Noir by far the most important. Oddly enough the Ahr is actually warmer overall than the Mosel because it’s protected by the Eifel Mountains and its steep slopes of volcanic and slate soils face south and southwest acting as a sun trap. Meyer-Näkel and Kreuzberg are the two top producers of Spätburgunder here and their wines fetch considerable sums in Europe and abroad.
The Ahr is______________
One of the smallest anbaugebiete- it ranks 10th overall, and it is the most northerly wine region in the world dedicated to red wine production.
What production % of red wine does the Ahr produce?
88%. Spatsburgunder is the dominate grape.
Where are the winegrowing area in Ahr?
It surrounds the Ahr River, a tributary of the Rhine, and its terraced vineyards are sheltered from cold winds by the Eifel Mountains. Steep slopes of rocky, volcanic slate offer warmth, and the region is actually warmer than the Mosel.
What does the VDP describe the Ahr climate as?
Mediterranean
