Location and history
Rümmelsheim is a wine-growing community in the Trollbachtal between Bingen and Bad Kreuznach and belongs to the wine region Nahe. The municipality also includes the locality of Burg Layen. Rümmelsheim was first mentioned in a document in 1125 under the name “Rimilisheim”.
Wine-growing in Rümmelsheim
Wine-growing is the community’s most important commercial activity. Small and larger vineyards cultivate around 138 hectares of vineyard area. White wine is produced predominantly.
Classified vineyard sites
Classified vineyards on the Nahe that are classified as VDP.ERSTE LAGE® include the Burg Layer Hölle with 22.40 hectares, the Burg Layer Johannisberg with 27 hectares, the Burg Layer Schlossberg with 19 hectares and the Rümmelsheimer Steinköpfchen with 18 hectares. The classified grape variety listed for each is Riesling.
Soils and terrain characteristics
The Hölle faces south to south-west, lies at an altitude of 190 to 250 metres and has a slope gradient of 5 to 30 percent. Its soil consists of strongly weathered grey slate with loam. The Johannisberg faces south and extends from 190 to 290 metres in altitude with a slope gradient of 10 to 40 percent; here there is weathered grey slate. The Schlossberg has south-easterly, southerly and south-westerly aspects, lies at an altitude of 170 to 220 metres and has a slope gradient of 5 to 40 percent. Its soil is strongly weathered red slate. The Steinköpfchen faces south to south-west, lies at an altitude of 220 to 270 metres and has a slope gradient of 5 to 25 percent; the soil consists of loam with Devon quartzites, gravelly sands, scree and loess-bearing slope deposits.
Wine style and other site characteristics
Rieslings from the weathered Hunsrück slate of the Rümmelsheim area are described as having pronounced fruit acidity, a mineral character and a slender and elegant style. For the Rümmelsheimer Schloßberg, aromas of lemon, grapefruit, peach and herbs are documented. The Burg Layer Rothenberg is described as an east-southeast-facing slope at 170 to 232 metres above sea level with loess, stony-sandy loam and slate soils. For a wine from this site, Pinot Noir is attested; a Grauburgunder from the Rothenberg was fermented and matured for twelve months in a new 500-litre wooden cask.
