Location and landscape
Appenheim is located in the Welzbachtal valley in Rheinhessen. The surrounding area is gently rolling and relatively warm. The municipal area belongs to the Rheinhessen-Westplateau and includes the landscape of Westerberg, on whose slopes the Hundertgulden vineyard lies.
Viticulture and climate
Viticulture shapes the character of the community. Appenheim has around 150 hectares of vineyard area and belongs to the Rheinhessen winegrowing region, in the Bingen area and the Abtey grand cru. Traditional grape varieties include Müller-Thurgau, Riesling and Silvaner; in addition, red wine is produced.
For Rheinhessen, the reference station Oppenheim reports, for the period 1992 to 2020, an average annual temperature of 11.1 °C, 530 millimetres of rainfall, around 280 days in the growing season and an average of 1,970 hours of sunshine.
Vineyards and soils
Appenheim’s single-vineyard sites include Daubhaus, Droßelborn, Eselspfad and Hundertgulden. Daubhaus and Droßelborn feature loess-pararendzina with calcareous deposits from the Ice Age. In Eselspfad, loess-pararendzina and limestone rendzina from tertiary marine deposits of a calcareous algae reef occur. Hundertgulden has limestone rendzina and the calcareous clay known as Terra fusca.
The Eselspfad, which is oriented to the south, is associated with Riesling, Weißburgunder and Silvaner; its wines are described as having fruit and minerality as well as volume and a smooth, supple texture. For Hundertgulden, Riesling is documented as the most important grape variety.
History
Appenheim was first mentioned in a document in 882 in the Liber Aureus. Remains of a small Roman bath and a Roman water supply system fed by springs in the Appenheim area provide evidence of Roman influence and viticulture in the region. The Eselspfad vineyard has been documented since 1375. The name Hundertgulden is linked to multiple changes of ownership at the Westerberg in the 14th century and payments in Rhineland gold gulden.
