The Rhine and some of its tributaries such as the Main, Nahe and Neckar rivers are particularly important in Germany when it comes to viticulture. This is because the majority of German vineyards are located on the sometimes steep slopes of these rivers in 10 (out of 13) directly neighbouring or nearby German wine-growing regions. The importance of the river is also emphasised by the fact that the most important German grape variety Riesling is often called Rheinriesling. Like all bodies of water, the Rhine has a positive effect on viticulture or creates the conditions for it by forming valley slopes. The 1,233 km long river, 857 km of which are in Germany, is formed from two headwaters in the canton of Graubünden in the Swiss Alps.
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Egon Mark
Diplom-Sommelier, Weinakademiker und Weinberater, Volders (Österreich)