Location and history
Kirchheim an der Weinstraße is located in the Bad Dürkheim district in Rhineland-Palatinate, in the Pfalz, at an altitude of about 145 metres. The municipality covers an area of around nine square kilometres. Kirchheim was first mentioned in documents in 764, when a vineyard in the local district was transferred to the Abbey of Lorsch. Historical evidence also points to settlements from the Bronze Age, Roman presence and Frankish burials.
Winegrowing and sites
Kirchheim an der Weinstraße has a documented winegrowing tradition of more than 1,200 years. The place belongs to the Pfalz winegrowing region, Bereich Mittelhaardt/Deutsche Weinstraße, and to the Großlage Schwarzerde. The officially recorded individual sites are Geißkopf with 74.0 hectares, Kreuz with 83.6 hectares, Römerstraße with 55.4 hectares and Steinacker with 65.1 hectares of vines planted in 2024.
Soils and grape varieties
In the historical description, the vineyard sites are associated with gravelly soils as well as clayey-limestone soils. For Kirchheim, the cultivation of Silvaner, Riesling and Traminer, as well as Portugieser, is documented in the plantings affected by the harsh winters of 1939 to 1941.
Winemaking
The local winegrowing businesses produce white, rosé and red wines as well as secco and Sekt. In doing so, they combine traditional experience with modern vinification techniques.
