Location and History
Mußbach is a district of the independent town of Neustadt an der Weinstraße in Rhineland-Palatinate and was incorporated in 1969. The place lies in the Vorderpfalz on the east side of the Palatinate Forest and extends to the east towards the Rhine plain. Mußbach was first mentioned around 780 as “Muosbach” in the property register of the Fulda monastery.
Landscape and Climate
The Mußbach stream flows through the settlement from the Palatinate Forest towards the Rehbach. Mußbach lies in the rain shadow of the Weinvieb; for the town, an average of less than 500 millimetres of precipitation per year is given. The viticulture landscape is part of the Pfalz.
Viticulture and Wine-growing Areas
Viticulture is among the most important agricultural activities in Mußbach. The documented wine-growing areas include Eselshaut, Bischofsweg, Glockenzehnt, Johannitergarten, Kurfürst and Spiegel. The single vineyard Mußbacher Eselshaut includes, among other sub-areas, Beim Steinernen Bild, Am Rothenstein and Dreißig Morgen.
Manor House and Grape Varieties
The Mußbach Johannitergarten is a documented single-variety site in the historical manor house complex, whose origins date back to the 8th century. In the vineyards associated with Mußbach, Riesling is an important grape variety. Kurfürst is also documented as a source for Gänsfüßer and Riesling; its soil is described as being strongly loamy and somewhat sandy. Dry Riesling from the Johannitergarten and dry Gänsfüßer from the Kurfürst site are documented.
