Location and classification
The St. Laurenzikapelle is a single vineyard in Gau-Algesheim in the Bingen area and within the Großlage Abtey of Rheinhessen. It lies directly below the St.-Laurenzi-Kapelle on the Laurenziberg, between Appenheim, Dromersheim and Ockenheim. The Weinlagenverzeichnis Rheinland-Pfalz lists the site under number 710108 with 41.8 hectares of vines planted.
Relief and soils
The site, which faces south, is at an altitude of around 200 metres. In the lower part there is a gently south-sloping hillside with an amphitheatre-like section, where warmth is stored in summer and which favours high ripeness of the grapes. Further sub-sections have medium to steep south-facing slopes.
The geological subsoil consists of limestone; above it lie clay marl and loess loam. The soils described are shallow to medium-depth, stony sandy loam rendzinas, as well as deep, clayey silty loams from loess. In individual plots, tertiary limestone marl and Terra Fusca, formed from marl and limestone, can also be found.
Grape varieties and classification
Riesling is the grape variety specified for the VDP classification. The VDP classifies the St. Laurenzikapelle as VDP.ERSTE LAGE® with a classified area of 13.00 hectares. For the Rieslings of the site, a fine-grained, acid-focused profile is described. In individual plots, Silvaner and Scheurebe are also grown; documented are Silvaner vines that are 40 years old, as well as Scheurebe vines with an age of more than 48 years.
Name history
The name is derived from the pilgrimage church of St. Laurentius on the Laurenziberg. The present-day Baroque building was created in the early 18th century on the foundations of an older Iro-Scottish chapel, which traditionally dates to the late 6th century or the early 7th century. The settlement and its vineyards were rebuilt and/or maintained following destruction in the Thirty Years’ War; corresponding work has been documented since 1649.
