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The following grape varieties are authorised for single vineyards from Rheinhessen from the 2026 harvest: Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Silvaner. The decision of the Rheinhessen Protection Association was announced by winegrowing president Jens Göhring at the Agricultural Winter Days in Mainz. All grape varieties may be used for site-predicate wines from the Beerenauslese category onwards, including ice wines and Trockenbeerenauslese wines.
The background to this is the quality pyramid that will come into force with the 2026 harvest year according to the motto: "The smaller the geographical indication, the higher the quality". To this end, the grape varieties for single vineyards must be defined by the winegrowing regions' protective associations. In the Palatinate, as many as seven varieties have been designated for this purpose: Instead of Silvaner, Gewürztraminer and Dornfelder are authorised here.
The private-law association "Maxime Herkunft Rheinhessen" had only designated Pinot Noir instead of Silvaner for its members for single vineyards in 2022. Up to and including the 2025 harvest, wines with protected designation of origin may still be marketed under the current rules.
(al / Source: Rheinhessenwein)