Rudesheim

We pulled out of Mainz a little after noon, and sailed down the Rhine to a small town, famous for winemaking.  This area is known for its white wines, particularly Rieslings.  We took a vineyards tour to the Johannes Ohlig winery.

In driving to the vineyards we passed Geisenheim, a little town with a reputation as the UC Davis of Germany.  Our guide had just finished his degree at the university there.




Schloss (Castle) Johannisberg on hill above the Rhine 

the crane

He took us to the vineyards above the city of Oestrich-Winkel.  Enroute he told us about some of the estates, including Schloss Johannisberg which we had seen as we cruised down the Rhine.  At the entrance to the Oestrich-Winkel harbor we had seen a wooden tower.  He explained that this was a crane for loading and unloading grapes -- it was operated by two people inside on a treadmill.







In the vineyards we were treated to a crisp, bone-dry Reisling.  mm..mm...good!




the Rhinegau region vineyards

 


oldest stone building in Germany

the little old wine drinker, me!

It was back into town to the winery and more tasting.  We tried a pinot noir rose... called Rheingau Spatburgunder Rose.  This was outside in the courtyard.  Then it was into the fermentation room for a little Rhinegau Riesling... and into the barrel room for a little late harvest Riesling (Johannisberger Goldatzel Riesling Spatlese).










We made it back to the ship in time to it the Viking Explorer party (for people who have cruised previously with VRC).  We were the newest members.  The captain's toast was with an aquavit brandy that had been made in Norway and taken to Australia so it, like the cruisers who were being toasted, had sailed the seven seas!