Location and constituent villages
Zellertal lies in the eponymous valley in Rheinhessen and comprises three constituent villages: Harxheim, Niefernheim and Zell. The village of Zell is located on the southern slope above the valley floor. The present-day municipality was formed on 1 January 1976 through the voluntary merger of the three places.
Viticulture and climate
The municipality includes around 100 hectares of vineyard area. Zellertal has a relatively cool local climate. Viticulture is shaped, among other things, by the vineyard sites Schwarzer Herrgott, Kreuzberg and Klosterstück.
Sites and soils
The south-facing Schwarzer Herrgott lies at about 170 to 250 metres above sea level and features calcareous marl, limestone outcrops and clayey calcareous soils. The also south-facing Kreuzberg is located at about 160 to 220 metres and is characterised by calcareous marl and clayey calcareous soils. Klosterstück lies on a high plateau about 300 metres high with clay over solid limestone outcrops.
Historical reference
The name Zellertal goes back to Zell and is linked to a monk’s cell founded in the early eighth century by Philipp von Zell. For the Schwarzer Herrgott, it is handed down that monks cultivated around 700 vines there. The grape variety specified for the sites Kreuzberg and Schwarzer Herrgott is Riesling; in the Königsweg, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are also documented.
