Location and natural region
Heylesen Werth island is a vineyard on a Rhine island directly in front of Bacharach in the wine-growing region Mittelrhein. The official classification is: Bereich Loreley, Großlage Schloß Stahleck, cadastral district and municipality of Bacharach.
Soil and climate
The low-lying island is surrounded by the Rhine and its side arms. The surrounding alluvial forest area protects the vineyard from flooding. The vines grow on a slate ridge covered with sand; the subsoil is also described as sandy alluvial soil over blue Hunsrück slate. The wine-growing climate is considered mild, while the island’s microclimate is characterised by pronounced acidity.
Farming and wine
Today, Heylesen Werth island is farmed as a monopoly by the Baer winery. For the site, Riesling is documented; a historical description mentions around 10,000 Riesling vines on the island. The Riesling produced from this is described as having fresh acidity and fine saltiness, as well as aromas of honeycomb, mandarin and pomelo. The site is classified as a single-vineyard site, and the wine as a First Growth.
History of viticulture
The island appears in 1678 as Heylesische Werth and as a fief in connection with the Heyles family. A document dated 2 April 1593 transferred the Bacharach island as an hereditary fief, which was connected to the family of Hans Heyles. After, in 1880, large parts of the vineyard estate were sold by the Bastian family, viticulture on the island was replaced by livestock farming and arable cultivation. After returning to the ownership of Fritz Bastian in the 1960s, vines were planted again.
