Mondschein

Moonlight is a single vineyard within the Großlage Pilgerpfad in the cadastral area of Heßloch, from Dittelsheim-Heßloch in the Wonnegau sub-region of Rheinhessen. The wine-growing area comprises about 9 hectares and lies at an altitude of approximately 180 to 210 metres. Its orientation ranges from east to southeast; a plot described there is located on a south-facing slope protected from cool westerly winds.

The soils range from shallow to medium-deep, very lime-rich rendzinas from tertiary marine deposits of a calcareous algal reef. They are stony as well as sandy-loamy, store only a little water available to plants, but offer good aeration and warming. In addition, deep, lime-containing clay marl occurs as a Pelosol with a high proportion of swelling clays. Also described are heavy marl in the topsoil, limestone inclusions, lime banks in the subsoil and, locally, gravelly rock.

Riesling is documented in the site; in one plot, the vines have been planted for more than 50 years. Wines associated with the lime-rich soils are described as aromatic and lively, with citrus, apple and gooseberry aromas that can develop into mango and passion fruit, balanced acidity as well as mineral and chalky notes. The wines from the marl and Pelosol soils are described as full-bodied, dense and rich, with moderate acidity, a creamy texture and ripe fruit notes of mango, apricot and honeydew melon. A documented Moonlight Riesling is made as a dry wine.

The wine-growing area was recorded in 1494 under the designation in Mondschein. The name refers to the elevated fields that shone in the moonlight. The winery Brandt states that it reads vineyard sites, including Heßloch Moonlight, separately and selectively in some vintages, so that the plots can reach the cellar at the intended state of ripeness.