Location and climate
Wallhausen lies in the Gräfenbachtal valley in the Nahe wine-growing region, around 10 kilometres from Bad Kreuznach. The village is surrounded by vineyards and the Soonwald. The areas under vine are in the rain shadow of the Hunsrück and are protected from cold northwesterly winds by the forested Soonwald. The climate is considered mild; the municipality is among the areas of Germany with low rainfall.
Vineyards and soils
The municipal area includes steep vineyard sites facing south to south-west. The Felseneck lies at an altitude of about 240 to 310 metres and has slope gradients of 30 to 45 per cent. The Hunsrück southern margin fault cuts through the cadastral area and separates Devonian rocks from Rotliegend formation of the Saar-Nahe Basin. This results in different soil types. At Felseneck, green slate, clayey loam and sandy loam are found.
Viticulture and grape varieties
Wallhausen has more than 350 hectares of productive vineyard area and is therefore one of the larger wine-growing municipalities along the Nahe. White wine cultivation predominates, while red wine cultivation has gained in importance. Among those planted are Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, Silvaner, Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder, Scheurebe, Kerner and Bacchus, as well as Dornfelder, Spätburgunder, Portugieser and Dunkelfelder. The Felseneck is classified by the VDP as VDP.GROSSE LAGE® for Riesling.
History and vineyard care
Viticulture in Wallhausen possibly dates back to Roman times. The earliest documented written record is from 1219, when Bishop Konrad III of Speyer donated two vineyards belonging to the church of Wallhausen. In the Johannisberg, fallow steep sites were reorganised as part of a land consolidation: 19 hectares were available for replanting, including 8 hectares as cross terraces; 9 hectares were left as open countryside to protect biodiversity. A weather station has been recording, among other things, temperature, precipitation, leaf wetness, humidity and wind there since 21 April 2022.
