Eckelsheim

Eckelsheim is a municipality in the district of Alzey-Worms in Rhineland-Palatinate and belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde Wöllstein. The municipality is described as a wine town and the smallest local authority within the Verbandsgemeinde.

Eckelsheim was first mentioned in records in 1293. After the Congress of Vienna, the town came under the Grand Duchy of Hesse and has belonged to the Verbandsgemeinde Wöllstein since 1972. On the southern boundary of the municipality lies the late Gothic ruin of the Beller Church. Its Marien altar was completed in 1490, and the nave in 1519.

Among the officially listed individual vineyard sites in the Rheinhessen wine-growing region are Eselstreiber, Kirchberg and Sonnenköpfchen. The areas planted in 2024 covered 44.9 hectares, 50.8 hectares and 49.7 hectares; for Eckelsheim, a total of 134.4 hectares of vineyard land was recorded as of 31 December 2022. Eselstreiber lies at between 165 and 230 metres, with a northern exposure, and features volcanic Rigosol as well as Mergel-Pelosol. Kirchberg lies at between 150 and 225 metres, with a south-western exposure, and includes gravelly sand and volcanic Rigosol. Sonnenköpfchen is named after a small, rounded elevation and is characterised by Mergel-Pararendzina from calcareous loams and sands.

For Eselstreiber, Riesling and Weißburgunder have been documented. The volcanic soils of this site are associated with mineral and smoky notes, lively freshness, piquant acidity and a multi-layered structure; the marl soils with more body, moderate acidity and a creamy texture. The gravelly sand of Kirchberg stands for early-accessible, lively, fruity, slender and elegant wines with pronounced acidity. The volcanic soils there are also associated with mineral notes and a multi-layered structure. Sonnenköpfchen is described with full-bodied wines, balanced acidity and lasting fruit, as well as white-fruit or smoky dark-fruit characteristics.