Location and classification
Fraugarten is a registered single vineyard in the cadastral district of Wintersheim within the area of Nierstein and the region of Rheinhessen. The vineyard area is given as 108 hectares. The name goes back to earlier ownership by the Liebfrauenstift.
Relief and soils
The site lies at around 200 to 230 metres above sea level. It is predominantly south-facing, with further west- to north-facing exposures. As the most important soil type, loess-pararendzina is documented; the loess is described as calcareous and as dust deposited during the Pleistocene ice ages. For the area, Pleistocene clay and silt are also mentioned with stones, gravel and sand, as well as predominantly base-rich brown soils.
Climate and use
For the area, mild winters and dry summers are indicated, along with a mean annual temperature of around 9.5 to 10 °C and a mean annual rainfall of around 500 to 550 millimetres. An ecological survey from 2018 recorded predominantly planted vineyard areas as well as grass and shingle paths; a later municipal document describes subsequent development of the area into residential building land.
Grape varieties and wine style
Riesling is documented in a dry wine from the 2024 vintage from Wintersheimer Fraugarten, as is Rosa Chardonnay in a delicately sweet late harvest. The wines from this site are associated with notes of yellow fruit, as well as aromas of apple, peach, pear and citrus. A comparatively light, refreshing character is also described, with mild acidity, medium structure and early drinking ripeness. The documented dry Riesling was fermented spontaneously with vineyard-native yeasts, matured in stainless steel and treated with sulphur in moderate quantities.
