Location and Climate
Westhofen is a municipality in the Wonnegau in the wine-growing region Rheinhessen. Rheinhessen is located in the Rheinknie between Mainz, Worms and Bingen and is characterised by a warm, dry climate at around the 50th parallel.
Vineyards and Soils
The Westhofen Kirchspiel extends along south-facing slopes with gradients of up to 30 per cent and lies at about 140 to 200 metres above sea level. Its subsoil is characterised by limestone. The Morstein lies at around 180 to 240 metres above sea level on predominantly south-facing slopes with 20 to 25 per cent gradient. There, heavier clay marl with inclusions of lime rests above massive limestone.
Grape Varieties and Wine Law
In Rheinhessen, around 70 per cent of the vineyard area is accounted for by white grape varieties. The most important include Riesling, Müller-Thurgau and Silvaner; among the red varieties, Dornfelder and Spätburgunder are significant. The limestone-influenced sites of Westhofen, including Morstein and Kirchspiel, are associated with Riesling. In Morstein, Spätburgunder vines also grow. Rheinhessen is recognised in EU wine law as a protected designation of origin. The VDP classifies Morstein, Kirchspiel and Aulerde as VDP.GROSSE LAGE.
History and Winegrowing
Morstein was documented in 1282 in a deed of gift to the Cistercian monastery of Otterberg. Kirchspiel has been attested since 1348 under a historic name which refers to a hill planted with cherry trees and has no religious origin. The winery Wittmann cultivates 35 hectares of vineyard in Westhofen, Gundersheim and Nierstein; most of its wines come from vineyards in and around Westhofen. In 1990 the winery converted its vineyard holdings to organic viticulture, and in 2004 to biodynamic winegrowing.
