Ahr

The wine-growing region named after a tributary of the Rhine is located in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany. The Ahr rises in the Eifel and flows into the Rhine south of Bonn. The vineyards are located on south-facing steep slopes in the lower and middle part of the deeply incised river valley over a length of around 25 kilometres. After the flood event in 2021, the vineyard area was reduced to 530 hectares (2018: 563 hectares).

Climate and soil

In the upper region between Altenahr and Marienthal, the narrow valley areas are characterised by weathered slate soils. Here, the vineyards almost reach the river. In the lower region between Walporzheim and Heimersheim, there are mainly loess loam soils mixed with weathered stone. In the steep terraces, the soil, rocks and vineyard walls made of slate and greywacke store the sun's heat and release it back to the vines at night, creating a mild, Mediterranean microclimate with relatively high temperatures.

Organic viticulture

In 2014, a significant decision was made in the Ahr Valley in favour of environmentally friendly, sustainable viticulture. It is the first wine-growing region in Germany to completely dispense with the use of insecticides.

Area, municipalities and vineyards

The only area is called Walporzheim-Ahrtal, which consists of the only Großlage Klosterberg with 38 individual vineyards. The wine-growing communities with their individual vineyards are:

• Ahrweiler: Daubhaus, Forstberg, Riegelfeld, Rosenthal, Silberberg, Steinkaul, Ursulinengarten
• Altenahr: Eck, Übigberg
• Bachem: Karlskopf, Sonnenschein, Steinkaul
• Bad Neuenahr: Kirchtürmchen, Schieferley, Sonnenberg
• Dernau: Burggarten, Goldkaul, Hardtberg, Pfarrwingert, Schieferlay
• Ehlingen: Kapellenberg
• Heimersheim: Burggarten, Kapellenberg, Landskrone
• Heppingen: Berg, Burggarten
• Marienthal: Jesuitengarten, Klostergarten, Rosenberg, Stiftsberg, Trotzenberg
• Mayschoß: Burgberg, Laacherberg, Mönchberg
• Neuenahr: Kirchtürmchen, Schieferlay, Sonnenberg
• Rech: Blume, Hardtberg, Herrenberg
• Reimerzhoven: Eck
• Walporzheim: Alte Lay, Domlay (abandoned in 2017), Gärkammer, Himmelchen, Kräuterberg, Pfaffenberg

Grape variety index

There were no major changes compared to 2009. Although the Ahr Valley is the northernmost German wine-growing region, more than four-fifths of the red wine varieties are cultivated here. Pinot Noir dominates with two thirds of the total area. This supremacy is also emphasised by the "Ahr Red Wine Route" and the parallel "Red Wine Hiking Trail". The status 2018 (0 = less than 0.5 ha):

Producers

The Mayschoß-Altenahr winegrowers' cooperative was founded in Mayschoß in 1868, making it one of the oldest winegrowers' cooperatives in the world. Other well-known producers include Adeneuer, Ahrweiler Winzer-Verein eG, Ahr Winzer eG, Bertram-Baltes, Burggarten, Deutzerhof, Heiner & Kreuzberg, Jean Stodden, Josten Marc, Kreuzberg, Kriechel Peter, Maibachfarm, Meyer-Näkel, Nelles Thomas, Riske Erwin, Riske Reinhold, Sermann-Kreuzberg, Weingut Sonnenberg and Weinmanufaktur Walporzheim. In the "Gourmet & Wine" event series, restaurateurs work together with top winegrowers and harmonise culinary delights with art and culture.