Location and landscape
Framersheim is a rural municipality in Rheinhessen in the Alzey-Worms district and belongs to the collective municipality of Alzey-Land. The village lies in the Selz valley at the foot of the Hornberg, which is 273 metres high. The built-up area is at about 150 to 170 metres above sea level, while the municipal area extends from the Selz riverbed at around 145 metres up to the Hornberg at 272.6 metres.
Rheinhessen is characterised by high plateaus, gentle hills and lowlands. The climate is considered warm and dry; for the wine-growing region, average annual figures of about 9.9 °C, around 500 millimetres of precipitation and 14.6 °C during the growing season are given. The landscape consists of tertiary and Quaternary sediments such as limestone, marl, clay, sand, gravel and loess.
Viticulture in Framersheim
Of the municipal area, which is about 960 hectares, around 350 hectares are devoted to vineyards. These belong to the Rheinhessen wine-growing region, Nierstein area and Großlage Petersberg. Grapes grown include, among others, Riesling, Silvaner, Pinot varieties, Huxelrebe, Kerner and Siegerrebe. Historically, Framersheim is also known for red-wine sites.
The wine sites
The three single vineyards include Framersheimer Hornberg, Framersheimer Kreuzweg and Framersheimer Zechberg. The Hornberg covers about 115 hectares, lies at an altitude of 170 to 200 metres, and faces north-west to west. Its deep, calcareous clay marl is classified as marl-Pelosol; the wines described from it are full-bodied, dense and rich, with moderate acidity and ripe fruit.
The Kreuzweg has deep, fertile and calcareous loess-pararendzinas with a high capacity for storing water and good root penetration. The wines described there are characterised as fine-fruited, slender and refreshing, with notes of apple, peach, pear and citrus. The Zechberg extends over about 74 hectares at 150 to 200 metres and is oriented to the south-west. Here too, deep, calcareous clay marl shapes the soils and is associated with full-bodied, dense and rich wines with moderate acidity and ripe fruit.
Historical references
Framersheim was first mentioned in 769 in a deed of gift. Wine-growing history also cites a vineyard in Framersheim that was donated in 775 to Lorsch Abbey. The Zechberg is documented in 1303 as “Zechberc”; the name refers to a combination of landowners’ properties for the cultivation of a vineyard. The Kreuzweg appeared in 1671 under the name “loures Kreitz”, referring to a wayside cross, or Lahrskreuz.
