Nahe [NAH-uh]

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Although the Nahe is one of the smaller of Germany’s ANBAUGEBIETE (quality-wine regions), it’s well known to connoisseurs as a producer of high-quality RIESLING wines. The Nahe River is a tributary of the Rhine River, flowing into it at Bingen. The 12,000 vineyard acres, which are spread out along both banks and part of the surrounding areas, are planted primarily with white varieties. MÜLLERTHURGAU is the most widely planted grape, followed by Riesling and SYLVANER. Riesling grapes, however, occupy most of the prime vineyard sites. The Nahe is divided into two BEREICHE, Kreuznach and SCHLOSSBÖCKELHEIM, and has seven GROSSLAGEN. Of the Grosslagen, Burgweg is considered the best, but the best known is Rüdesheimer Rosengarten (not to be confused with the more famous village of RÜDESHEIM in the RHEINGAU region).