Riesling is the most widely grown grape variety in Germany. Over 20 % of the wine-growing area is stocked with Riesling and the grape is cultivated in every German wine-growing region. 

In commemoration of the first official reference of Riesling, the vineyard just below the railway line is called “Im Rüsselsheimer”.

The Riesling grape variety was first officially mentioned in an invoice written by Klaus Kleinfisch in the name of his master, Count Johann IV von Katzenelnbogen. He had bought seedlings of a new white grape variety for 22 Shillings. The quality of this variety was much better, it was also more resistant to frost and produced a fruity aroma. This decision by Kleinfisch and Count Johann marks a turning-point in wine-growing history.

Until the introduction of Riesling, wine was characterised according to its colour, red, white or black and its taste, hunnic (inferior) and french (good). Even in 1402, the Archbishops of Mainz did not accept any other wine than their less tasty but high yielding wine.

Riesling spread rapidly following the harvest of the Rüsselsheim grapes. Riesling wines enjoyed their first peak of popularity until the confusion associated with the Reformation put an end to  ambitions for producing good wines in Germany.

Wine-growing blossomed in Rüsselsheim for a long time, until the number of vineyards dwindled at the beginning of the 20^th century. The last grapes were produced during WWI. When the record from 1435 was discovered in 1980, the town authorities of Rüsselsheim created a commemorative vineyard near the fortress. 275 Riesling vines were planted on an area of 800 sqm. Since 1985, the vineyard is managed by the association Winzerfreunde Rüsselsheim e.V. Together with the wine-growing estate Künstler in Hochheim. Just like in the old days the association pays the town a rent in kind.