Location and landscape
Köngernheim is a municipality in Rheinhessen and is administered within the Verbandsgemeinde Rhein-Selz. The town lies in the Middle Selz Valley of the Rheinhessen tableland and hilly landscape. The wide Selz Valley is bounded by asymmetrically rising high plateaus and is surrounded by vineyards.
Climate and soils
The annual precipitation is about 500 to 550 millimetres, and the average annual temperature is approximately 10 °C. In summer, precipitation falls mainly during thunderstorms. West and south-westerly winds prevail; at night, cold air flows down into the Selz Valley area and drains northwards.
In the Selz Valley area, several metres of loess or weakly sandy silty material over sediments deposited on slopes. Beneath that are tertiary clays and marls as well as alluvial deposits of the Selz.
Viticulture in Köngernheim
The municipal area comprises around 70 hectares of vineyard. The single vineyard Goldgrube covers 73 hectares, lies at an altitude of 130 to 150 metres, and faces south. In the Qualitätsweinbaugebiet Rheinhessen it belongs to the Nierstein area and to the Großlage Gutes Domtal.
Wine character of the Goldgrube
For the Goldgrube, marly and pararendzina soils have been documented with calcareous loams and sands from tertiary marine deposits as well as loess pararendzina. On marl, full-bodied, powerful wines with balanced acidity can develop; white wines are associated with ripe aromas such as mango, honeydew melon and apricot. The loess soils are assigned to fruit-forward, refreshing wines with moderate structure and aromas of apple, peach, pear and citrus.
