Location and landscape
Wöllstein is a local municipality in Rheinhessen in the Alzey-Worms district in Rhineland-Palatinate. The Appelbach flows through the town. The municipal area covers about 12 square kilometres, and the settlement lies at 134 metres above sea level.
Viticulture and soils
Wöllstein belongs to Rheinhessen, a protected wine-growing region that is warm and dry compared with Germany. The vineyard site Wöllsteiner Hölle lies at 130 to 200 metres, the Wöllsteiner Äffchen at 150 to 205 metres. In the Hölle and in the Haarberg-Katzensteg, loess-pararendzina soils occur, associated with moderate structure, gentle acidity and fresh fruit.
Geology and grape varieties
The Äffchen is characterised by marl-pelosol with a high proportion of gravel; there, Riesling, Grauburgunder and Chardonnay have been documented. In the Ölberg, loess-pararendzina as well as volcanic rocks and rigosol are found. The quarry there exposes rhyolite formations, a type of volcanic rock that can form hexagonal columns.
History and vineyard sites
Wöllstein was first mentioned on 18 July 855 in the Lorsch Codex as Welthistein. Archaeological finds provide evidence of settlement since before the Christian era and during the Roman period. The vineyard register lists Äffchen, Haarberg-Katzensteg, Hölle and Ölberg under Wöllstein. The Römerberg extends over Badenheim and Wöllstein, while the Gumbsheimer Schloßhölle is assigned to the cadastral district of Gumbsheim.
