The Ahr river twists and turns its way through a rocky landscape
where lush vineyards cling to the bare stone. The ancient Romans
appreciated the favourable climate of this wild, romantic
valley, and were the first to cultivate grapes there. As well as
pinot noir, the queen of the red grapes, the region's
specialities include the equally prized, early-ripening pinot
madeleine. Great effort is required to product top wines on the
steep slopes above the Ahr river, but it is more than repaid by
the high quality of the wines. With only 552 hectares under
vine, the Ahr just scrapes into tenth place among the 13 German
wine regions. A total of 480 hectares are used to grow red
grapes, while white grapes are cultivated on around 72 hectares.
Pinot noir, the queen of grapes, accounts for over 60 per cent
of the total area, or 339 hectares. 46 hectares are given over
to the portugieser grape variety, 20 to dornfelder and 35 to
pinot madeleine. White wines play a minor role, although whites
of notable quality are produ