The Rheingau is one of the most distinguished wine regions of the world. Moving from east to west, the fairly flat, dimpled landscape evolves into progressively steep slopes. It is a quietly beautiful region, rich in tradition. Early on, its medieval, ecclesiastical and aristocratic wine-growers were associated with the noble Riesling grape and, in the 18th century, were credited for recognizing the value of harvesting the crop at various stages of ripeness — from which the Prädikate like “Spätlese”, or special attributes that denote wines of superior quality, evolved. Today, the world-renowned oenological research and teaching institutes in Geisenheim have contributed significantly to the extraordinarily high level of technical competence in the German wine industry. Two grape varieties predominate: Riesling (80 %) and Spätburgunder (12 %). The former yields elegant wines with a refined and sometimes spicy fragrance; a fruity, pronounced acidity; and a rich flavour. Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) wines are velvety and medium- to full-bodied, with a bouquet and taste often compared with blackberries.