Location and classification
Eseltreiber is a registered single vineyard site in the district and cadastral district of Eckelsheim in Rheinhessen. The site belongs to the Bingen area and to the Großlage Rheingrafenstein. In the cadastral district of Eckelsheim, a total of 44.9 hectares of planted vineyard area were registered for the 2024 harvest.
Soils
Eseltreiber comprises volcanic rock / rigosol soils from light-coloured igneous Rotliegend rock, as well as marl / pelosol soils from calcareous clay deposits of the Tertiary sea. The volcanic rock soil is shallow to medium-depth, stony and sandy-loamy, with moderate plant-available water retention, good aeration, low nutrient content, an acidic reaction and good heat retention.
The marl soil is a deep, calcareous clay soil with a high proportion of swelling clay. It shows limited water flow and aeration, a high nutrient content and strong calcareousness.
Grape varieties and wine style
The site is associated with Riesling and Weißburgunder. The share of volcanic rock is described in terms of mineral, stony and smoky notes, lively freshness and pronounced acidity. The marl soils stand for more body, moderate acidity and a creamy texture.
A dry Eseltreiber Riesling from the 2022 vintage by Weingut Julian Wolf is described as having ripe fruit, noticeable acidity, balance and a long finish. Riesling and Weißburgunder are also documented as dry, site-specific wines from this winery.
Name and cultivation
The name refers to narrow tracks for donkey driving, which were wide enough for a donkey loaded with a sack, but not for a cart pulled by horses. Such paths often led to a mill.
Weingut Mertz, which farms vineyards in Eseltreiber, describes its cultivation as close to nature, sustainable and strongly shaped by manual work. According to the winery’s own information, the site-specific wines are fermented spontaneously and kept on full lees until bottling.
