Location and landscape
Badenheim is a municipality in Rheinhessen and the only Rheinhessen municipality west of the B 50. A branch of the Appelbach flows through the Badenheim vineyard site Badenheimer Galgenberg; the Appelbach also forms part of the eastern boundary of the historic village.
Vineyard sites and soils
The vineyard sites Galgenberg and Römerberg belong to the sub-region of Bingen and to the large site St. Rochuskapelle. The Galgenberg covers 14 hectares, lies at an elevation of 110 to 155 metres, and is oriented to the south-west. The Römerberg covers 24 hectares, lies at an elevation of 135 to 151 metres, and shows a western to north-western orientation.
Both sites are characterised by deep, calcareous and clay-rich marl-Pelosol soils. The calcareous clay deposits associated with the Tertiary sea are nutrient-rich, have springs and show limited water permeability as well as limited aeration. For the Galgenberg, in addition, a plentiful amount of lime and shell substance is described; for the Römerberg, a high proportion of loess loam.
Grape varieties and wine style
For the Galgenberg, Portugieser and Silvaner are documented. In the Römerberg, Optima and Riesling are grown. The wines associated with the marl-Pelosol sites are described as full-bodied, dense and rich, with moderate acidity and fruit-forward profiles.
History
Badenheim was first mentioned in a document in 835, when a deed confirmed the acquisition of a farm and a vineyard by the Prüm Abbey. Archaeological finds include a cemetery ranging from the early La Tène period into the Roman period, as well as a Merovingian row-grave field. The name Römerberg refers to soil finds from Roman times. In the Middle Ages and in the early modern period, Badenheim was protected by a system of walls and a ditch. The municipality belongs to the protected designation of origin area Rheinhessen.
