Location and landscape
Mommenheim lies at the heart of Rheinhessen and is surrounded by vineyards and productive arable land. The vineyard site Mommenheimer Silbergrube is located at the foot of the Zornheim hill.
Vineyard sites and terroir
The Mommenheimer Kloppenberg covers 43 hectares, lies at an altitude of 140 to 160 metres, and has a south-east to south-west exposure. Marl and pelosoil soils from calcareous clayey deposits of the Tertiary Sea shape the site. The wines are described as full-bodied, with moderate acidity emphasis and fruit-driven character.
The Mommenheimer Osterberg covers 79 hectares, lies at an altitude of 130 to 230 metres, and has a south-west exposure. Marl and pararendzina soils made of calcareous loams and sands form the terroir. The wines are full-bodied and balanced in their acidity; white wines are associated with exotic fruit notes, and red wines with dark fruit as well as smoky spice notes. The Silbergrube is classified as a single vineyard site in the Nierstein area and within the large vineyard designation Gutes Domtal, and comprises 40 hectares. Its loess and pararendzina soils formed from calcareous dust blown during the Ice Ages. The terroir profile stands for fruity, refreshing wines with moderate structure and early readiness to drink.
History
Mommenheim was first mentioned in the Lorsch Codex on 23 May 766. The municipality records traces of Celtic and Roman settlement, as well as an extensive Frankish cemetery near Portugieserstraße. It is also recorded that Charlemagne owned a wine-growing estate in Mommenheim. In 1276, Mommenheim was made a Free Village under Philipp von Hohenfels from the House of the Staufers.
The Kloppenberg is documented as “vor cloppenberg” around 1290. The name goes back to Middle High German “klupf” meaning hill or rise. The Osterberg was mentioned in records in the 12th century and again in 1436; “Oster” refers to an eastern position. The Silbergrube appears in 1436 as “in der silbergruben”, with the name understood more generally as symbolic and not as an indication of deposits of silver.
Wine locally
Numerous local winemakers bottle their wines themselves and sell them directly on site, including in Straußwirtschaften and local restaurants.
