Geisenheimer Rothenberg

The Rothenberg takes its name from the red iron oxide in its soil: 'Roth' is an old German spelling for 'red' and 'berg' means 'mountain'. The vineyard was first mentioned in written documents in 1145, by the nobleman Ruthard de Rothenberch. Weingüter Wegeler offers 'Rodenberg', in the sense of clearing land, as a second possible origin of the name. On the 1867 site classification map, which the VDP calls the oldest in the world, the vineyard was assigned the highest Class I status, equal to the Rüdesheimer Berglagen, Schloss Johannisberg, Steinberg, Marcobrunn and Gräfenberg; the map was rediscovered in 2011. Today 5.44 hectares of the site are classified as VDP.GROSSE LAGE, with Riesling as the only classified variety.

• 1145: first written mention of the vineyard, by the nobleman Ruthard de Rothenberch
• 1867: Class I status on the site classification map the VDP calls the world's oldest, rediscovered in 2011
• VDP.GROSSE LAGE: 5.44 hectares classified within the 44-hectare Einzellage
• Other Geisenheim VDP.GROSSE LAGE sites: Kläuserweg, Mäuerchen and Morschberg, plus Jesuitengarten, which is listed under both Oestrich-Winkel and Geisenheim

The Rothenberg is a pure south-facing slope between 100 and 130 meters above sea level that runs in parts at up to 40 percent down toward Geisenheim, reaching the edge of the town's buildings. The classified area faces south to southeast at 135 to 145 meters, with slopes of 10 to 44 percent. The soils glow red from iron oxide and also contain weathered rock rich in coarse material with slate, including Taunus quartzite, and have good water-holding capacity. The soil is eroded Taunus quartzite with veils of loess. Weingüter Wegeler calls the slope, at a gradient of around 40 percent, probably one of the winners of climate change. The view from the Rothenberg has been named one of Germany's Best Vineyard Views, a vista taking in the Taunus peaks to the north and, up the Rhine, Schloss Johannisberg and the vineyards of Wiesbaden and Mainz.

• Aspect and elevation of the classified area: south to southeast, 135 to 145 meters, slopes of 10 to 44 percent
• Soils: red from iron oxide, with weathered slate and Taunus quartzite and good water retention; Wegeler describes its ground as Taunus quartzite interspersed with red clay slate
• View: the vista pans over the Inselrhein, home to the Rhine's largest island, the Mariannenaue, and its widest section (1 kilometer)
• Walking: a 13.5-kilometer hike from the Rothenberg takes about 3.5 hours at medium difficulty, with St. Hildegard's Benedictine Abbey and the Niederwald monument setting its course

Riesling is the only classified variety for the Rothenberg Grosse Lage, and two VDP member estates work the site: Geheimrat J. Wegeler (Gutshaus Rheingau) and Hochschule Geisenheim University. Wegeler's Rothenberg range includes Riesling Grosses Gewächs (GG) from the 2016, 2022 and 2024 vintages alongside Auslese, Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese bottlings and a Rothenberg Riesling Sekt brut nature. Wegeler's Geheimrat J Riesling was first presented in 1984. In a wein.plus report on the wine's 40th anniversary, managing director Richard Grosche says 'The backbone of Geheimrat J will always be the Geisenheimer Rothenberg'. The winery has many different plots on the slope. The Hochschule Geisenheim estate has been a VDP member since 1995 and farms 13 hectares. The university was founded on 1 January 2013 from the merger of the Geisenheim Research Institute (Forschungsanstalt Geisenheim) and the Geisenheim faculty of the RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, with roots in the Royal Prussian Institute of Pomology and Viticulture founded in 1872 by Eduard von Lade.

• Riesling only: the single classified variety for the Grosse Lage
• Wegeler's Rothenberg range: Riesling GG, Auslese, a 2011 Beerenauslese, a 2016 Trockenbeerenauslese and a 2016 Riesling Sekt brut nature
• Geheimrat J: Wegeler owns 45 hectares in the Rheingau and selects Rothenberg parcels for this dry Riesling
• Hochschule Geisenheim: research, teaching and production come together at the university's estate, where Ludwig Pasch is technical cellar head

In 2011, Trockenbeerenauslesen (TBA) were harvested in the Rothenberg with must weights of 259, 319 and 340 degrees Oechsle. Wegeler counts 2015, 2016 and 2017 as the most recent vintages with optimal conditions for TBA, with must weights of 170, 190 and 230 degrees harvested. Its Rothenberg range also includes Auslese from 1996 and 2002, a 2011 Beerenauslese and a 2016 Trockenbeerenauslese.

• 2011: TBA must weights of 259, 319 and 340 degrees Oechsle
• 2015 to 2017: the most recent vintages with optimal TBA conditions on Wegeler's account, at must weights of 170, 190 and 230 degrees
• Wegeler's 2002 Geisenheim Rothenberg Auslese is labelled edelsüß (noble sweet)

Primary sources (the VDP, the Deutsches Weininstitut, and the own sites of Weingüter Wegeler and Hochschule Geisenheim University): https://www.vdp.de/de/die-weine/weinbergonline/lage/7168-rothenberg, https://www.vdp.de/en/the-wines/vineyardonline/lage/7168-rothenberg, https://www.wegeler.com/en/the-estates/rheingau-estate, https://shop.wegeler.com/2002-geisenheim-rothenberg-auslese, https://shop.wegeler.com/search?search=rothenberg, https://www.vdp.de/de/die-winzer/rheingau/hochschule-geisenheim, https://www.hs-geisenheim.de/en/university/about-us/history, https://www.winesofgermany.com/our-regions/winesight/232/geisenheimer-rothenberg. Secondary sources: https://magazine.wein.plus/how-good-riesling-became-a-premium-brand-40-years-of-geheimrat-j. Last verified 2026-10-05