Location and Climate
Gau-Bickelheim is a wine-growing municipality at the foot and on the southern slopes of the Wißberg in the rolling countryside of Rheinhessen. The Wißberg reaches 271 metres and is regarded as the second-highest elevation in Rheinhessen. The region is relatively dry and sunny: in the course of the year, around 530 millimetres of precipitation fall on average, the average annual temperature is about 11.1 °C, and the growing season lasts approximately 280 days.
Vineyards and Soils
The official single vineyards belonging to the Bingen sub-region and the Großlage Kurfürstenstück include the Gau-Bickelheimer Bockshaut, the Gau-Bickelheimer Kapelle and the Gau-Bickelheimer Saukopf. The Bockshaut comprises 121 hectares at heights of 160 to 200 metres and includes areas with both southern and northern exposure. The Kapelle extends over 36 hectares at heights of 200 to 270 metres and is oriented to the south. The Saukopf comprises 92 hectares at heights of 120 to 200 metres with a southern orientation.
In the Bockshaut, loess and para-rendzina as well as marl and pelosol can be found. The Kapelle has marl and pelosol as well as limestone and rendzina, while the Saukopf is characterised by marl and pelosol. The limestone soils of the Kapelle are described as calcareous algae reef deposits from the Tertiary sea.
Wine Style
The marl and pelosol soils of the Bockshaut and the Saukopf are associated with full-bodied, dense wines with moderate acidity and a creamy texture. The limestone and rendzina soils of the Kapelle stand for expressive, aromatic wines with well-balanced acidity, featuring mineral and chalky characteristics.
History
Gau-Bickelheim was first documented in 1128 under the name “Beckelnheim”; later, among other forms, Gaubeckelnheim, Gaubekilnheim, Gaubecklinheim, Gawbickelheim and Gauböckelheim are recorded. The Bockshaut appears in 1527 as “uff der bockshewde” and in 1713 as “auff der bockßkauth”. The Saukopf is recorded in 1713 as “in dem Säukopf”. The Kapelle received its name from the Kreuzkapelle, for whose construction Johann Jakob Hees from Gau-Böckelheim donated half of his vineyard in 1755.
