Location and landscape
Sprendlingen is a municipality in the Mainz-Bingen district in Rhineland-Palatinate and lies in Rheinhessen on the Wiesbach. The 13.03 km² municipal area is assigned to the landscape units Wöllsteiner Hügelland and Rheinhessische Randstufe. In the south-east, the Wißberg rises to about 270 metres above sea level.
Climate and soils
Sprendlingen has a sheltered wine-growing climate with mild winters, warm summers and about 500 to 600 millimetres of annual rainfall. The local climate is also described as very warm and dry; the annual rainfall can sometimes be below 500 millimetres. Deep, fertile soils with tertiary river deposits from the ancient Rhine form a basis for winegrowing. In the vineyards Honigberg, Hölle, Klostergarten, Sonnenberg and Wißberg, among other soils, calcareous marl, loess and Pararendzina soils occur.
Winegrowing and vineyard sites
Sprendlingen is a winegrowing municipality surrounded by vineyards and is one of the larger winegrowing municipalities in Rheinhessen. In the vineyard sites Honigberg, Hölle, Klostergarten, Sonnenberg and Wißberg, among other varieties, Riesling, Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Grauburgunder, Weißburgunder, Dornfelder and Spätburgunder are grown. Production includes quality wines from both white and red grape varieties. Loess and Pararendzina soils are associated with rather light, refreshing wines, while marl and Pararendzina soils are associated with fuller and more structured wines. The Honigberg stands for dense, full-bodied and fruit-focused wines, while the Wißberg stands for dense wines with balanced acidity from both white and red grape varieties.
Historical references
A vineyard in the Sprendlingen district was documented in the year 767, when Richlindis donated a vineyard and arable land to the Lorsch monastery. The Wißberg has been documented since 720. The name Klostergarten is connected with land ownership by the Abbey of Nivelles. The name Hölle is recorded for 1592 as Im Helweg and is explained as referring to a slight slope position; Sonnenberg appears in 1435 as Sonborn and is linked to its southern orientation.
