Location and landscape
Siefersheim is an Ortsgemeinde in the Verbandsgemeinde of Wöllstein in the Alzey-Worms district and lies in the wine-growing region Rheinhessen. The municipal area covers 628 hectares, of which around 172 hectares are given over to vineyards. The village is situated at about 153 metres above sea level; the vineyard sites range from approximately 150 to 280 metres. Rheinhessen is shaped by low rainfall, warm summers, mild winters and the protection provided by western low mountain ranges.
Winegrowing and soils
The Siefersheimer vineyard sites combine different terrain forms and geological conditions. The Goldene Horn includes hillside sites and flatter plots with loess and volcanic Rigosol soil. In the Heerkretz, rhyolite dominates; in addition, melaphyric rocks and bands of limestone occur. The site classified as VDP.GROSSE LAGE covers 17.27 hectares. In the Höllberg, volcanic Rigosol formed from rhyolite determines the soil.
Selected vineyard sites
The Höllberg lies on a wooded south-east slope with an inclination of up to 30 per cent and is protected from west winds by the Siefersheimer Horn. Its wines are associated with mineral, smoky and stony characteristics, as well as a potential for ageing. The Martinsberg extends between about 150 and 205 metres above sea level and has aspects to the south, east, west and north. Loess and pararendzina there favour fruity, refreshing wines with moderate structure and mild acidity.
Traces of history
Siefersheim was first mentioned on 5 December 1254 in a document concerning a fief. Archaeological finds provide evidence of settlement traces from the Neolithic, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age and the Roman period. The Martinsberg has been documented since 1330 under the name “by sant martins borne”; the Höllberg was first mentioned in 1532 as “in der hellen”. In the tertiary marine sands of the municipal area, fossils and shark teeth can be found; in addition, cliff formations from marine activity dating back more than 35 million years are exposed.
