riesling, while steadily increasing its share, still represents just under 28% of Nahe vineyard, but overwhelmingly dominates all of the best addresses.
müller-thurgau was the most widely grown vine variety for a time, but its area has declined dramatically in recent decades to 13% of vineyard by 2011. silvaner has fallen to less than half that much, whereas pinot blanc and pinot gris—while small in total surface area—are responsible for some distinctive successes at many of the Nahe’s front-running estates. In response to a German red wine boom from the late 1990s, spätburgunder (pinot noir) reached 6% and dornfelder a remarkable 11%, although it remains to be seen whether it will establish permanent importance.
