Location and landscape
Mainz lies in the Rhine loop in the centre of the winegrowing region Rheinhessen, which stretches to the south-west of the city. Viticulture is concentrated primarily in the city districts of Hechtsheim, Laubenheim and Ebersheim. The highest point of Mainz is 245 metres in the area Auf der Muhl in Ebersheim.
Climate and soils
The winegrowing region is characterised by mild conditions, low rainfall, warm summers and mild winters. Surrounding hills and forests provide protection. In Rheinhessen, materials including loess, limestone and clay occur, sometimes with sand or gravel. In the vineyards along the Rhine, red sandstone (Rotliegendes) also occurs. In the Mainz district of Weisenau, tertiary-age rocks of the Mainz Basin are found, including limestone, which was extracted for cement production.
Vineyard sites and wine law
The Mainz vineyard sites are assigned to the Nierstein area within the winegrowing region of Rheinhessen. Several single vineyard sites belong to the Großlage (collective vineyard) of Mainzer Sankt Alban; the small historic winegrowing area in Mainz-Bretzenheim is assigned to the Großlage of Mainzer Domherr. The Großlage of Mainzer Sankt Alban covers about 208 hectares. Around two thirds of the area are planted with white and one third with red grape varieties.
Grape varieties and tradition
Mainz winegrowing has an overwhelmingly white-wine profile. As typical grape varieties of Mainz and the surrounding area, Silvaner, Weißburgunder and Riesling are presented. In Rheinhessen, Müller-Thurgau, Scheurebe, Burgundy varieties, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are also among the important white varieties; for the red varieties, Dornfelder, Spätburgunder and Portugieser are widespread. Mainz’s tradition of winegrowing, according to urban documentation, goes back more than 2,000 years to the Roman period.
