Location and landscape
Ingelheim am Rhein lies in the Rheinhessen region in the Selz valley, near the confluence of the Selz with the Rhine. The Rhine shapes the city’s northern landscape. The landscape also includes floodplain areas, agricultural land and vineyards, which extend particularly to the south-east of the built-up city area.
Viticulture and soils
Ingelheim is known as a red-wine town, as the cultivation of red wine shapes the town’s viticultural identity. Among other varieties, Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder, Portugieser, Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Laurent and Dornfelder, as well as Riesling, Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder, Silvaner and Morio-Muskat are documented in the vineyards.
The Ingelheimer Pares lies on the Mainzer Berg above Ober-Ingelheim. Its shallow to moderately deep, strongly calcareous and stony sand-loam soil was formed from tertiary marine limestone deposits. The Bockstein in Ingelheim-Großwinternheim comprises a south-facing slope with gradients of up to 45 per cent and numerous dry-stone walls.
History
Charlemagne had a palatinate built in today’s Nieder-Ingelheim around the year 800 and there he had a royal assembly convened as early as 788. A documented Ingelheim winery was founded in 1881 and stands for the town’s historical connection to red wine.
