Site and Soils
Tempelchen is a legally defined single vineyard site in the Elsheimer district of Stadecken-Elsheim. In the Nierstein area, it belongs to the larger vineyard site Domherr in Rheinhessen and lies below Windhäuser Hof, enclosed by a stone wall. The site comprises a lower slope with shell limestone and an upper slope with loess.
Soil and Vineyard Area
As an official soil type, loess-pararendzina is recorded. The calcareous, wind-deposited material has a high capacity for storing water and good root penetration. In the 2024 register of vineyard sites, 8.6 hectares of planted vineyard area are listed for Tempelchen under vineyard site number 720223.
Grape Varieties and Wines
For the site, Riesling, Pinot varieties, Silvaner, Grauburgunder and Weißburgunder are documented. The producers associated with Tempelchen produce white wines and sparkling wines from these. Riesling sparkling wine is made using traditional bottle fermentation.
History
Below Windhäuser Hof, wine has been grown for centuries. According to historical accounts, wine from the estate was sent to the Mainz garrison. A small arcade structure in the vineyards probably emerged during the Napoleonic era and gave the site its name. From 2014 onwards, Tempelchen was revitalised by Stephan Glöckner, Jörg Krug, and Ralf and Volker Hamm; as part of the group connected to today, Manfred Krug of the Elftausend-Mägde-Mühle is also included.
