Important locations for Rheinhessen wine
When it comes to important individual vineyards in Rheinhessen, you simply cannot ignore the Roter Hang in Nierstein. Although the steep vineyards are rather untypical for the wine-growing region. The Roter Hang is divided into ten individual vineyards, of which Pettenthal, Hipping, Ölberg and Orbel are the most famous. Let's start with these individual vineyards before we look around the rest of Rheinhessen.
Pettenthal
Alongside Hipping, Pettenthal is the heart of the Roter Hang. The 20-hectare site is up to 90 metres high and begins above the flat foot of the slope. With a gradient of up to 70%, the sun can shine particularly intensely on the barren red slate in the midday hours and warm up the soil. Riesling is particularly present in Pettenthal. The wines produced here are very racy, with a complex and almost wild depth. Clearly Rheinhessen wines for advanced wine lovers.
Hipping
Actually, Hipping is like the Pettenthal location - only more extreme. The slope here is 60 to 120%. Here we have very intense morning sun, which gives the grapes the energy boost they need in the early hours. The soil here is characterized by heavily weathered red slate. Riesling is also mostly found here. The wines are generally very intense and tend to be a bit opulent. There is also often a salty minerality, which provides the necessary elegance to balance things out.
Ölberg
Above Nierstein you will find the Ölberg site facing south-southeast. Here, part of the Rotliegend is very rugged, so that the vines can have very deep roots. The site is a little away from the Rhine, so the river no longer has such a strong influence. The fact that the grapes benefit from the intense sunlight despite the associated heat is thanks to the stronger winds that blow regularly here. The wines - primarily Riesling here too - are very full-bodied and have enormous depth. At the same time, however, you can also find a lot of freshness and elegant mineral notes in them.
Orbel
The Orgel single vineyard is on the Roter Hang the furthest from the Rhine. With a gradient of up to 60%, Orbel is consistently oriented towards the south, meaning that the vines - here too, especially Riesling - benefit from the hot sunshine. The only cooling here is provided by gentle winds from the Rhine. Riesling in particular comes across here with a piquant flavor..
Dalsheimer Hubacker
Let's leave Nierstein and the Roter Hang and turn to the Hubacker in Flörsheim-Dalsheim. The Dalsheim Hubacker with its southeast orientation is considered the "nucleus of the upswing in Rheinhessen", as a targeted increase in quality was already being considered here in the 1980s. Riesling in particular thrives on the limestone, and the wines here are very mineral and fine, but at the same time complex and with a lot of depth. The Rheinhessen wines from the Hubacker can mature very well.
Dalsheimer Bürgel
Loess, marl and shell limestone characterise the soil of the Dalsheimer Bürgel. When the soil dries out, it forms cracks that promote water and air permeability. This is precisely why not only Riesling feels at home here, but also Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay, all of which produce elegant, mineral wines with a refined character.
Niederflörsheim Frauenberg
There is a very special microclimate in Frauenberg. The south-eastern location is very warm thanks to the sun, but there is also a constant cooling wind. This extends the ripening time of the grapes, which leads to a particularly intense aroma. Riesling and Chardonnay in particular grow on the loess soil, which also contains marl and limestone as well as clay loam. The grapes are ideal for sparkling wine production. Still wines here, however, produce a very juicy, fruity character that is not lacking in finesse.
Westhofener Kirchspiel
A chain of hills protects the semi-circular basin in which the site is located from winds that are too cold. The parish is shaped like an amphitheater that opens to the east towards the Rhine. The vines are rooted mainly in limestone, with a layer of clay marl and limestone skeleton deposits. In addition to Riesling, Silvaner is mainly found here. These Rheinhessen wines shine with a lot of fine elegance, minerality and a magical yellow fruit.
Westhofener Brunnenhäuschen
The Brunnenhäuschen single vineyard in Westhofen is immediately recognizable. Not only because it is located at an altitude of between 180 and 240 meters above sea level, but because the Terra Rossa soil shimmers reddish from afar. Terra Rossa always means a high iron content. In combination with the southern exposure and the cooling westerly winds, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc produce highly aromatic and yet extremely elegant Rheinhessen wines.
Westhofener Aulerde
Aulerde is the warmest location in all of Westhofen. In the west, it is also protected by the slopes of the parish, so that the grapes ripen particularly early here. Clay marl and weathered limestone loam, with a layer of loess, dominate the soil. Here you will find mainly Riesling, which is very intense and racy, with a beautiful spiciness and much deeper complexity.
