Rech is a town that lies between Dernau and Mayschoss on a sweeping bend of the Ahr river. It has one Grosse Lage-classified site: the Herrenberg vineyard, which towers above the town on the steep northern banks of the river. Here, the southerly aspect and the thin, rocky slate soils make an excellent terroir for growing Pinot Noir, or Spätburgunder as it is known in this part of Germany.
The Herrenberg ('Lords' Hill') vineyard is named after the Lords of Saffenberg, who considered this vineyard one of their most prized possessions. It is situated below a precipitously steep outcrop of rock, and is covered in slate and greywacke soils. The dry, rocky soils absorb the sun's heat during the day, keeping the vines warm at night. This helps the grapes reach full phenolic ripeness in spite of Ahr's cool continental climate.
Rech's most important producer is Jean Stodden, which makes a range of wines from both Spätburgunder and Frühburgunder, an early-ripening mutation of Pinot Noir.
