The Vinum Weinguide Deutschland 2024 was released recently, presenting Vinum's choice of Germany’s best 1,000 wine producers and reviewing more than 10,500 wines on 1,080 pages. 

5 out of 5 stars („world class“) was awarded to 20 estates. There are two new ones on the list: Schloss Johannisberg and Rings. Congratualtions!

In addition, there are 32 estates with 4.5 stars, and 76 estates with 4 stars.

Postings

This posting is the 8th in a series of postings related to the Vinum Weinguide Deutschland 2024:

Climbers: Weingut Schloss Johannisberg (Rheingau) and Weingut Rings (Pfalz) Join Group of 5/ 5 Stars Winemakers in the Vinum Weinguide Deutschland 2024

Vinum Weinguide Deutschland 2024 Awards: Dörte + Meike Näkel, Weingut Meyer Näkel (Winemaker of the Year), Andy + Steffen Rings, Weingut Rings (Rising Star of the Year), Martin Prüm, Weingut Martin Prüm (Discovery of the Year)

Best Wines of the Year - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2024 

Top 10 Wines of the Year 2023 - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2024

Ahr: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2024 

Baden:  The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2024 

Franken: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2024 

Hessische Bergstrasse: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2024 

Mittelrhein: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2024 

Mosel: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2024 

Nahe:  The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2024 

Pfalz:  The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2024 

Rheingau: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2024 

Rheinhessen:  The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2024 

Saale Unstrut: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2024 

Sachsen:  The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2024 

Württemberg: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2024

Hessische Bergstrass - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2024 

In the Hessische Bergstrasse region, there is no producer with 5 or 4.5 stars. There is 1 producer with a 4 star rating, there are 2 producers with a 3 star rating and 2 with a 2 star rating. 

Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, and I have visited the producer with the 4 star rating and one of the two producers with a the 3 star rating over the past years during a Germany wine tour by ombiasy WineTours, which is owned and run by Annette Schiller and based in Washington DC, USA.

Hessische Bergstrasse

(Wine Searcher)

The Hessische Bergstrasse (Hessian Mountain Road) is the smallest of Germany's 13 wine regions, in terms of both vineyard area and volume produced. With just over 460 hectares (1,100 acres) under vine, it produces less than 0.5% of Germany's total wine output, the majority of which rarely leaves the country.

The region is located within the federal state of Hesse, along the eastern bank of the Rhine river between Darmstadt and Weinheim. Generally speaking, the region is a northern extension of the Baden vineyard area that runs along the Rhine from Switzerland to the city of Mannheim.

The northern part of Hessische Bergstrasse extends from the Rhine to the Hessen-Bayern border, near the river Main. The Otenwald hills and Bergstrasse-Odenwald natural park provide a broadly curving eastern boundary.

Although the Romans understood the suitability of this region for grape growing, and historic documents show winemaking has been well established for over 1,000 years, Hessische Bergstrasse was only officially defined and inaugurated in the 1971 Weingesetz (wine law).

The region is planted to roughly 80 percent white and 20 percent red varieties. 

As production is minimal (about 0.5% of German wine), most wine produced here is consumed locally; it is highly unusual to see Bergstrasse wines outside of Germany.

The majority of the region's wine - well over half - is produced by the regional winemaking co-operative, Bergstrasser Winzer, based in the city of Heppenheim. Some 620 of the approximately 850 growers in the region are members of this organization.

The state government of Hesse is the biggest single vineyard owner, with 38 hectares (94 acres) in the control of the Hessische Staatsweinguter Kloster Eberbach winery.

Hessische Bergstrasse is known throughout Germany as a tourist destination and is particularly popular in springtime. The climate is mild, providing ideal conditions for viticulture. The soils are mainly decomposed granite, sandstone and quartz.

Visiting Hessische Bergstrasse`s Top Producers 

Griesel/ 4.0 Stars

Pictures: Ultra-premium Sekt: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Griesel&Compagnie, Sekthaus Streit, Bensheim, with Winemaker Rachele Crosara - Germany-South and Alsace 2018 Tour by ombiasy WineTours: Baden, Alsace, Pfalz and Rheinhessen 

Simon-Bürkle/ 3 Stars

Picture: Tasting at Weingut Simon-Bürkle, Zwingenberg, Hessische Bergstrasse– Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany