Golden October: A rare wine summer on the Middle Rhine!

Golden October: A rare wine summer on the Middle Rhine!

In Cologne and the surrounding area, the golden October 2023 bore very special fruit. The Goswin Lambrich winery, which has been managed by Christiane and Matthias Lambrich since 2018, brought in a harvest this year that is considered particularly rare and promising. In Dellhofener St. Werner Berg, where the winery is located, the harvest season is all about high product quality, as the Rhein-Zeitung also reports. Most of the grapes are already in the cellar and the winemakers are pleased with their good quality.

The apple and pear trees in the Hunsrück and on the Rhine are still full, and many fruits have already been harvested and processed. This abundance is noticeable not least in the offering of the Lambrich winery, which can offer its guests and customers a fine selection of high-class wines with a “Best of Riesling” package.

Awards for quality

One of the good news is that the Goswin Lambrich winery was named winery of the year in the current Eichelmann wine guide 2025. It was also named Rising Star of the Year in the Vinum Wine Guide 2025. These successes are an expression of the hard work of the winemakers in the challenging, steep slopes of the Middle Rhine Valley. The Eichelmann particularly highlights the expressive and well-ripened Rieslings, which have a characterful expression thanks to the special location.

The Gutsrieslings, the Cuvée Blanc and the Sauvignon Blanc were particularly praised. The deep blue slate soils combined with the perfect ripeness of the grapes contribute significantly to the quality of the wines. An example of this are the top wines “Bernstein” and “Ölsberg”, which are distinguished by their minerality and spice. The Vinum experts also confirm that the collection is clear, fresh wines that shine with length and minerality.

The Middle Rhine wine region

But what does it look like overall in the Middle Rhine wine-growing region? With 468 hectares of vineyards, it is the second smallest of Germany's 13 wine-growing regions, but stretches over around 110 kilometers from Bingen to the Siebengebirge near Bonn. There are currently 82 wine-growing businesses here, all of which have to make do without cooperatives. The average vineyard area per winery is only 5 hectares.

What is special about this region are the soils, which consist primarily of slate and greywacke weathered soils. These conditions create optimal conditions for wine production, but the steep slopes are a challenge - often up to 1000 hours of work per hectare are necessary.

The Lambrich winery cultivates a total of 6 hectares and specializes in Riesling. Particularly noteworthy are their wines such as the “Riesling Urgestein” and the “Spätburgunder dry”, both of which are offered at very affordable prices. The variety of wines and their different profiles make the winery an interesting destination for wine lovers.

With this successful harvest and the remarkable awards behind it, it remains to be seen what further successes the Middle Rhine winemakers will celebrate in the future. One thing is certain: the region has established itself as an insider tip for high-quality wines that is worth discovering.