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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, or special attributes that denote wines of superior
quality, evolved. Queen Victoria's enthusiasm for Hochheim's wines contributed to their
popularity in England, where they, and ultimately, Rhine wines in general, were referred to
as Hock. 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 today. Two grape varieties predominate: the Riesling and the
Spätburgunder. The former yields elegant wines with a refined and sometimes spicy fragrance;
a fruity, pronounced acidity; and a rich flavor. The Spätburgunder wines are velvety and
medium- to full-bodied, with a bouquet and taste often compared with blackberries.
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