The Rheingau is classic German winegrowing. Vertiginous vineyards craning over the river Rhine as it meanders its way through the lush countryside. World-class Riesling in particular in many forms, from exhilaratingly, bracingly dry to lavishly, regally sweet. And all of this less than half an hour from Frankfurt.

Riesling dominates but Pinot Noir is increasingly prized, nowhere more so than from the town of Assmanhausen with its steep, westerly terraced vineyards largely devoted to this notoriously tricky but rewarding variety.