Location and history
Hackenheim is an Ortsgemeinde in Rhineland-Palatinate and belongs to the Bad Kreuznach district. The municipality covers 4.31 km² and lies at an altitude of about 180 metres. It is assigned to the wine-growing region of Rheinhessen.
Under the name Hagenheim, Hackenheim has been documented since 1124.
Soils and vineyard sites
The Hackenheimer Kirchberg lies on deep, calcareous and clay-rich marl and Pelosol soils. The deposits date from the Tertiary sea and contain a high proportion of clay capable of swelling. On the distinctive summit stands the Michaelskapelle chapel, where a wine festival takes place every year.
The Hackenheimer Sonnenberg is named after the south-facing orientation of its vines. Its medium-depth, stony, sandy loam soils from Ice Age river deposits drain and aerate well, but store only a limited amount of water available to plants.
Wine character
At the Kirchberg, a wide range of grape varieties is cultivated on the clayey-marl soils. The wines described there are full-bodied, dense and rich, with moderate acidity, a creamy texture, and ripe fruit notes such as mango, apricot and honeydew melon.
The Sonnenberg is Burgundy-oriented and is more suitable for red wine. The wines are described as having herb-spiced aromas, firm structure, freshness, juiciness, density and potential for development. In dry years, the soil’s limited water storage can lead to drought stress.
