Hessische Bergstrasse

Wine-growing region in the federal state of Hessen in Germany, south of the city of Darmstadt. The vineyard area totals only 436 hectares, making it the smallest region in Germany, even smaller than Saxony. The region is protected by the Odenwald forest, and lies in the area between the Neckar, Rhine and Main rivers. The largest part of the region stretches along the Rhine river. The Romans were involved in viticulture here, and built the „Via strata montana” (mountain road, or Bergstrasse). The earliest documentary evidence of viticulture is dated 756, and refers to a vineyard in Bensheim. The climate is mild, spurring Emperor Joseph II. (1741-1790), returning from his coronation in Frankfurt, to cry out euphorically: This is where Germany starts to turn into Italy. The region is sub-divided into two districts, Umstadt (Odenwälder Weininsel) and Starkenburg, there are three regional sites, and 23 single vineyard sites. The list of communes with their single vineyard sites:

* Alsbach with Schöntal
* Auerbach with Alte Burg, Fürstenlager, Höllberg
* Bensheim with Hemsberg, Kalkgasse, Kirchberg, Paulus, Streichling
* Brensbach with Heilige Tanne
* Dietzenbach with Wingertsberg
* Erbach with Maiberg
* Gronau with Hemsberg
* Heppenheim with Centgericht, Eckweg, Guldenzoll, Maiberg, Steinkopf, Stemmler
* Klein-Umstadt with Stachelberg
* Roßdorf with Roßberg
* Schönberg with Fürstenlager, Herrnwingert
* Seeheim with Mundklingen
* Umstadt with Herrnberg, Stachelberg, Steingerück
* Unter Hambach with Maiberg, Steinkopf, Stemmler
* Zell with Hemsberg, Streichling
* Zwingenberg with Alte Burg, Steingeröll

Spring comes early here, and autumn has a late start, leading to a long period of vegetation with excellent sunshine and sufficient precipitation. This provides ideal conditions for viticulture, especially for Riesling. The soils are mainly decomposed granite, coloured sandstone and quartz porphyry with a varying loess content. The quantity produced is so small – o.5% of the total German production – that most of the wines are drunk locally. Some of the better known producers are: Bergsträßer Winzer (this cooperative works 60% of the vineyard area), Hessische Staatsweingüter, the state wine estate, H. Freiberger and Simon-Bürkle. White varieties clearly dominate, accounting for 80% of the total. The grape varieties planted (correct as per 2007):

Variety Synonyms Colour Ha % share
Riesling Weißer Riesling, Rheinriesling white 211 48,4
Pinot Noir Spätburgunder red 44 10,1
Pinot Gris Ruländer, Grauburgunder white 38 8,7
Müller-Thurgau Rivaner white 33 7,6
Silvaner Grüner Silvaner white 19 4,4
Dornfelder - red 15 3,4
Pinot Blanc Weißburgunder white 14 3,2
Kerner - white 12 2,8
St. Laurent - red 6 1,4
Regent - red 5 1,2
Ehrenfelser - white 4 0,9
Traminer Roter Traminer white 4 0,9
Blauer Portugieser Portugieser red 4 0,9
Scheurebe Sämling 88 white 3 0,7
Cabernet Mitos - red 3 0,7
Frühburgunder Blauer Frühburgunder, Clevner red 3 0,7
Chardonnay - white 2 0,5
Blaufränkisch Blauer Limberger, Limberger, Lemberger
red 2 0,5
Rotberger - red 2 0,5
Auxerrois - white 1 0,2
Cabernet Sauvignon - red 1 0,2
Dakapo - red 1 0,2
Dunkelfelder - red 1 0,2
Johanniter - white 1 0,2
Merlot - red 1 0,2
Reichensteiner - white 1 0,2
Schwarzriesling Müllerrebe, Pinot Meunier red 1 0,2
White varieties 345 79,1
Red varieties 91 20,9
TOTAL 436 100