NAHE NOW Part 3: Dynamic Downstream

By Stuart Pigott - last revision: 20.10.26

The section of the Nahe upstream from Bad Kreuznach - the region’s capital city - is far more famous than that part of this wine region downstream from the city. Upstream is home to Dönnhoff, Emrich-Schönleber & Co: Gold Standard Producers! That often creates the impression this is the Real Nahe, in contrast to Downstream, where less is percieved to be happening and everything is somehow less extraordinary and inspiring. As fantastic as the best wines from Upstream  are, the idea that those from Downstream are inherently inferior is complete nonsense. 

The truth is that what goes up then comes down, and if we turn the clock back half a century and more some of the most sought-after Nahe wines come from just downstream of Bad Kreuznach. I am talking about the wines that the August Anheuser and von Plettenberg wineries made from vineyard sites that have since been forgotten, like Kreuznacher Brückes. The 1953 and 1971 vintages of these wines were legendary, and are examples of how the development of the Nahe wine region was not a straight line that merely extends from some Mythical Beginning directly to the Nahe Now.

I think it’s a measure of how things changed during the last years that for me the best description of the contemporary Downstream is the Dynamic Nahe: Dynamic Downstream. Sure, Caroline Diel has been making exciting wines at the Diel winery (also known as Schlossgut Diel) for a long time, but even she further developed her wine style that I think now deserves to be described as French-German: a synergy of the best that both cultures have to offer. And, ably supported by her husband Sylvain Taurisson-Diel, she does that with not only dry Riesling, but also dry whites from the Burgundy family grapes, Pinot Noir reds AND sparkling wines! Only the Rieslings with natural grape sweetness would I say that the style is entirely Germanic; nothing quite comparable is produced in France.

Some of the other developments, like the steady rise of Martin Tesch in Langenlonhseim are also medium-term developments. However, Martin is now joined by son Johannes, who has largely taken over responsibility for winemaking. Johannes’s wines are even more expressive and vivid than his father's, but there has been no fundamental change of style. However, revolutionary new vineyards in the Krone site - I promise you that they look very different - are now on stream, and the volcanic St. Remigiusberg site of Laubenheim has become a Tesch monopole.

Likewise, the wines of the Krüger-Rumpf winery are certainly more elegant and exciting than they were a decade ago. Georg Rumpf rediscovered the Abtei vineyard site close to Bingen, from which the 1937 bottling is one of the region's greatest dry Riesling wines. They have been augmented by Julia Rumpf’s Haus Rothenberg wines, which are also helping pushing the vineyards of Langenlonsheim back into the spotlight.

The other motor of this development are the wines of the biodynamic Zwölberich winery in Langenlonsheim, which has been rejuvinated and reinvented by Pauline Weller and Udo Preußger since 2024. Given this team's determination I have no doubt that these wines are only going to improve further. This subject deserves more in-depth exploration and will receive it. WATCH THIS SPACE!

I LOVE 2025 ON THE DYNAMIC DOWNSTREAM !

Zwölberich  Nahe  Riesling  Langenlonsheim vom Meereskies trocken  2025 - 12.5% / Brimming with nectarine and Mandarin orange aromas, this has the combination of succulence and vibrancy that makes 2025 so cool (in every sense of the word!) Hang on in there, because this wants to hang with you. Beautifully balanced finish. 94 (SP)

Krüger-Rumpf  Landwein Rhein  Riesling  Zweistrom trocken  2025 - 12.5% / What a stunningly complete and dry Riesling! The peachy, Amalfi lemon and smoky aromas are so deftly intertwined with the intense stony minerality that drives the excitingly brisk, racy finish.  A cuvée from the Pitterberg GG site in the Nahe and the Scharlachberg GG site in Rheinhessen. Vinified in large neutral oak. Tasted twice. 95 (SP)

Tesch  Nahe  Riesling  Löhrer Berg trocken  2025 - 12.5% / With joyful freshness this surfs over your palate in the direction of the rosy sunset. Totally poised on high heels - and on a surf board! - cutting a glamorous figure at the silky finale! And yes, of course the wine is irresistible! 96 (SP)

Diel  Nahe  Riesling  Pittermänchen Kabinett 2025 - 7.5% / This Kabinett vibrates to the music of the spheres, dancing ecstatically for longer than you or I can keep up with it. Spot-on balance right through the delicious night and the following day of dangerous fun! 96 (SP)

NOTE: Only for paying subscribers the notes for all 83 wines tasted can be found below. Many high scores, going up to 98.