Location and Winegrowing
Dorn-Dürkheim is a municipality in southern Rheinhessen in the Mainz-Bingen district in Rhineland-Palatinate and belongs to the Rhein-Selz collective municipality. The town is assigned to the Rheinhessen winegrowing region and the Nierstein winegrowing area.
Vineyard Sites
As better-known vineyard sites of the municipality, Hasensprung and Römerberg are considered. Hasensprung covers about 32 hectares, lies at an altitude of 180 to 210 metres, and is predominantly oriented to the south. Römerberg extends over about 300 hectares, lies at an altitude of 92 to 160 metres, and shows orientations from south to east.
Climate and Terroir
Rheinhessen is shaped by a warm, dry climate. The winegrowing region receives around 500 millimetres of precipitation each year, of which roughly 65 percent during the growing season. In Hasensprung, loess and colluvial soils can be found, with humus-rich topsoil and very good root penetration. The terroir is associated with buffered acidity as well as notes of yellow fruits, apple, pear and peach; the structure gains expressiveness as it ripens.
History
Dorn-Dürkheim is considered a Frankish settlement foundation and was first mentioned in 763. In 1457, the town came under the rule of the Elector Palatine and was assigned to the Palatinate Upper Office of Alzey. In Hasensprung there is also a fossil site with remains of about 80 vertebrate species from a time around 8.5 million years ago.
