Riesling, the noblest German grape

It takes a Nahe-vintner about 1000 hours of work per year and per hectare of vineyard ("Wingert") to prepare the ground, plant the grapevines, to deal with pest control, and of course, to harvest the grapes. This has not changed since the time of Vergil (79-19BC). It can be read about in his poems "Georgica" about agriculture:

When the grapevine has lost its last leaf,
when the north wind has taken
the ornaments of the forests with a frosty breath
the vintner thinks about the coming year.
And he goes with the knife, the crooked tooth of Saturn,
into the desolate vines and cuts them back.
Dig the earth at once!
And into the fire with the vines, which you have cut.
And bring the framework under a roof,
then finally think of the harvest.
Twice per year shadow threatens the grapevines.
Twice do the rampant and stifling weeds encircle the plants:
a truly difficult business!

The Riesling, the noblest German grape, needs special care. It must have a good place to grow, meaning a slope which is well ventilated, with soil rich in minerals, a summer with enough heat and humidity and then a dry and sunny autumn. The Riesling is, in fact, the grape with the longest growing time. For this reason, it is the highest quality grape. The results are worth the effort, though. The Riesling from the Nahe valley is especially fruity and full of minerals and having fine acidity, it is elegant and low in alcohol. This Nahe wine well known far and wide.