Location and landscape
Gau-Weinheim is a municipality in the hilly country of Rheinhessen in Rhineland-Palatinate. It lies on the south-eastern foot of the 271-metre-high Wißberg in a hollow open to the south, surrounded by several vineyard hills. The vineyard sites are protected from cold northerly winds; the southern aspect shapes the local viticultural climate.
Viticulture
Viticulture and agriculture determine the municipality’s area. Around 180 of the total 430 hectares of municipal land are planted with vines. The vineyard areas belong to the Großlage Kurfürstenstück, which comprises around 180 hectares in total.
Vineyard sites and soils
Kurfürstenstück is divided into the individual sites Kaisergarten with about 59 hectares, Wißberg with about 61 hectares and Geyersberg with about 62 hectares. Kaisergarten lies in a hollow open to the south and has calcareous soils. Wißberg is a classic south-facing site with loess soils and limestone-weathering rock. The gently hilly Geyersberg to the east of the town is oriented towards the south-west and is characterised by dark loess, heavy loam, as well as calcareous marl clay and Pelosol.
History and grape varieties
Gau-Weinheim is first documented in 767 under the name Wigenheim; the present name has been used since 1869. A deed of gift from the year 767 mentions a half vineyard and documents viticulture as early as the 8th century. For Wißberg, Chardonnay, Grauburgunder, Weißburgunder and Spätburgunder are documented. On Geyersberg, Riesling, Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Scheurebe and Bacchus are grown, as well as red grape varieties. The calcareous soils of Kaisergarten are associated with fruity, full-bodied wines; the wines of Geyersberg are considered full-bodied, dense and rich, with moderate acidity and predominantly ripe fruit.
