Harxheim in Rheinhessen
Harxheim is a municipality covering an area of 3.51 km² in the Mainz-Bingen district in Rhineland-Palatinate. The municipality is administered within the Verbandsgemeinde Bodenheim and lies in the protected geographical area of the Rheinhessen designation of origin.
Climate and viticulture
Rheinhessen including Harxheim has a warm, comparatively dry climate that is suitable for viticulture. The region’s wine production is predominantly geared towards white wine; the most important white grape varieties include Riesling, Müller-Thurgau and Silvaner.
Harxheimer vineyards
The single vineyards Harxheimer Börnchen, Harxheimer Lieth and Harxheimer Schloßberg are located in the Großlage Nierstein, in the area of Sankt Alban, in the Harxheim cadastral district. The Börnchen is named after a small spring, while Lieth goes back to the Middle High German word lite for slope. The Schloßberg has been documented since 1673 and denotes a steep slope; Lieth was already mentioned in 1377 under the name zu lieden.
Soils and grape varieties
In Börnchen and Lieth, loess pararendzina as well as marl pararendzina are documented; in the Schloßberg, loess pararendzina. The loess forms deep, calcareous clay soils with a high water-holding capacity. The marl soils consist of calcareous clays and sands that are linked to tertiary marine deposits. Riesling and Silvaner are grown in Lieth and Schloßberg.
