NAHE NOW: Part 1 - 2025 is a Great Vintage

By Stuart Pigott - last revision:23.08.26

2025 is a Great Vintage for Germany, though certainly not uniformly for all regions and grape varieties. However, there’s a widespread tendency to describe it as just vnother very good year, or even More of the Same. I think this is partly, because nobody in the wine trade or wine scene actually needs a great vintage right now. There is no better argument in support of my statement than the wines from the top producers of the Nahe.

Let’s start with the brightest star in the Upper Nahe, Frank Schönleber and family’s Emrich-Schönleber winery in Monzingen. That Frank's 2025 vintage wines are something special was already a subject of conversation at the Mainzer Weinbörse wine trade fair in Mainz at the end of April. A number of sommeliers who's judgement I trust told me they were as blown away as I was.

When I tasted the full row of his 2025 wines Frank told me how surprized he'd been that on the last day of the 2025 harvest. "We were able to select shrivelled Botrytis berries for nobly-sweet Riesling TBA, which wasn't possible in many places. However, even the clean grapes had 97° Oechsle, and frankly any more ripeness would have been too much for making dry wines!" So, 2025 here is a vintage of superlative ripeness, but it is also a vintage of great vibrancy and finesse. What more do you want? Read the notes below for all the Good News!

I think one of the Nahe’s problems is partly a side-effect of keeping the VDP regional association small. On one level this makes the Nahe look good, since the group’s quality is very high. However, it also makes the region look smaller than it really is, enouraging the tendency to regard the region as having a handful of jewels surrounded by mediocrity, or even shit. I am not suggesting this effect is in any way the result of conscious intention, but that doesn't alter the fact many people in the wine scene regard it in that all-or-nothing way. This is worst in Germany, because of the Germans tendency to absolutist Tops oder Flops thinking. A number of producers prove that this image doesn't align well with the reality on the ground.

In the Upper Nahe the most prominent of these are Bamberger, Hexamer both in Meddersheim and K.H. Schneider in Bad Sobernheim. Sadly, I only had time to taste at the latter, but Andi Schneider proved once again that he’s a very talented winemaker with a unique and exciting style. These wines are terrific value for money and not nearly as well-known as they deserve to be. The two contrasting standout wines below are serious expressions of the 2025 vintage in the Nahe. Love them!

I will taste the wines from Bamberger and Hexamer a bit later in the year, so watch this space.

STANDOUT WINES

Emrich-Schönleber  Nahe  Riesling  Frühtau trocken 2025 - 12% / Oh Joy! The aromas of summer berries and flowers pour from the glass of this beautiful Nahe wine. Also some very ripe pear. The combination of succulence and raciness is literally breathtaking. Great bergamot and Amalfi lemon freshness at the uplifting finish that feels like ripples in space-time! 96 (SP)

Emrich-Schönleber  Nahe  Riesling  Auf der Lay GG (Auction Wine)  2025 - 13% / This essence of Nahe dry Riesling is like a star that just formed and sends its first rays of light into the primordial darkness. Yes, there are citric and stone fruit aromas, but what makes this so special is not that side of the wine, as ravishingly beautiful as it is. The wet-stone and slate elements are the essential things here. Extraordinary filigree at the breathtakingly brilliant finale. 100 (SP)

K.H. Schneider  Nahe  Riesling  Domberg trocken  2025 - 12% / Stand back as the mighty Nahe Mineral Train pulls into the station! Very sleek and focused, but with more than enough citrus, chamomile and lemon balm flavours to carry this daring style. Samurai sword-like finish that flashes in the Riesling light! 96 (SP)

K.H. Schneider  Nahe  Riesling  Felsenberg trocken  2025 - 12% / It’s not often that a Nahe dry Riesling from a volcanic site has this kind of finesse. Glides over the palate you so gently in spite of all the power and structure. Very long, complete finish that gently expresses the smoky minerality of this great vineyard. 97 (SP)

A total of 39 wines were tasted, 24 of which rated 95+ !