📍 Ahr

The Ahr is a narrow valley in the north of Germany and one of the smallest wine zones in the country: about 558 hectares of vineyards. The Ahr river flows into the Rhine not far from Bonn. The zone is part of German wine and lies farther north than the Mosel, yet it makes mostly red wines.

It is the northernmost area in the world dominated by red grapes: they cover about 86% of the area, more than anywhere else in Germany. The main grape is Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder in German), and its relative Frühburgunder grows beside it. There is also the more recent German grape Domina. The wines come out light and elegant, with red-berry aroma.

For red grapes to ripen so far north, very good sites with a warm microclimate are needed. The steep slopes are sheltered by the Eifel mountains, and the soils consist of slate, basalt and clayey greywacke of volcanic origin. They store heat well.

In July 2021 flooding in the valley destroyed about a tenth of the vineyards, but wineries recovered. A walking route through the valley that passes among the vineyards is also well known.