Location and extent
Homberg is a single vineyard site within the Großlage Petersberg in the Nierstein sub-area. It is located in the municipality of Albig in Rheinhessen and covers 52 hectares.
Topography and soils
The vineyard site lies at an altitude of around 160 to 207 metres and has exposures from north-west to south-west. Documented are marl, or pararendzina, and limestone, or rendzina. The marl soils consist of calcareous loams and sands from Tertiary marine deposits. They are deep-rooting, rich in lime and clayey, store strongly swelling-prone clay, and show limited water and air permeability as well as a high nutrient content. The limestone soils date back to Tertiary marine deposits in connection with a calcareous algal reef; they are shallow to medium-deep, very lime-rich and stony, with sandy loam and good aeration and heat retention.
Wine style
The marl soils are paired with dense, full-bodied wines and balanced acidity. For the aromas, mango, honeydew melon and apricot are mentioned for white wines, and dark fruits and smoky spices for red wines. The limestone soils stand for expressive, lively and aromatic wines with balanced acidity as well as mineral chalky characteristics; the aromatic spectrum ranges from citrus fruits, apple and gooseberry to ripe mango and passion fruit.
Name and cultivation
The name Homberg developed from Hohenberg and means “high mountain”. The Albiger field name is documented since 1333; forms such as Hohenberg are handed down as far as the 15th century, later Hoenberg and finally Homberg. The Philipp winery manages the site under the vineyards it cultivates around Albig and lists marl, sand and limestone as relevant subsoils.
