Rüdesheim

[ROO-duhs-hime] An important wine-producing village located in Germany's rheingau region, southwest of the city of Wiesbaden and across the Rhine River from bingen (which is in the nahe region). Rüdesheim is the last of a string of villages (including erbach, oestrich, winkel and geisenheim) that have some of the best vineyards in the Rheingau. Of the numerous good einzellagen (vineyard sites), those carrying the designation "Berg" as well as the site name are generally the best. Rüdesheimer Berg Roseneck, Rü­­desheimer Berg Rottland, and Rüdesheimer Berg Schlossberg, for example, are all situated on the prime steepest section called the Rüde­sheimer Berg. Other quality vineyard sites are Bischofsberg, Drachenstein, Klosterberg, and Rosengarten. The wines of Rüdesheim are generally full-bodied (see body) and rich with ripe concentrated flavors. In years with exceptionally good weather, however, these wines can become a bit too big and alcoholic. This famous Rü­desheim shouldn't be confused with the small village of Rüdesheim in the Nahe region, the wines of which are not in the same class.