Starkenburg

The wine-growing region is located in Hesse in Germany between the three rivers Neckar, Rhine and Main in the protection of the Odenwald on the western slope of the Odenwald. The vineyards cover 467 hectares of vines along the Rhine. The Romans already practised viticulture here in ancient times and laid out the "Via strata montana" (mountain road). The first documented reference to viticulture was in 755 with regard to the donation of a vineyard in Heppenheim.

Climate and soil

The mild climate prompted Emperor Joseph II (1741-1790) to exclaim on his return from the coronation in Frankfurt: " Here Germany begins to become Italy. With an early spring and late autumn, there is a relatively long growing season with excellent sunshine and sufficient rainfall. This results in optimal conditions for viticulture. The main wine-growing communities are Heppenheim and Bensheim with mainly loess loam soils. There is red sandstone only on two small "islands" (Heppenheimer Steinkopf and Maiberg). Only in the northern area (e.g. Zwingenburg) are there isolated granite weathered soils.

Areas, communities and sites

The wine-growing region is divided into two areas, Umstadt (Odenwald Wine Island) and Starkenburg, three large vineyards and 23 individual vineyards. The wine-growing municipalities with their individual vineyards:

• Alsbach: Schöntal
• Auerbach: Alte Burg, Fürstenlager, Höllberg
• Bensheim: Fürstenlager, Hemsberg, Kalkgasse, Kirchberg, Paulus, Streichling
• Brensbach: Holy fir tree
• Dietzenbach: Wingertsberg
• Erbach (district of Heppenheim): Maiberg
• Gronau (Bensheim district): Hemsberg
• Groß-Umstadt: Herrnberg, Stachelberg, Steingerück
• Heppenheim: Centgericht, Eckweg, Maiberg, Steinkopf, Stemmler
• Heubach (district of Groß-Umstadt): Herrnberg
• Kleestadt (district of Groß-Umstadt): Stachelberg
• Klein-Umstadt (district of Groß-Umstadt): Stachelberg
• Roßdorf: Roßberg
• Schönberg: Fürstenlager, Herrnwingert
• Seeheim (with district ofugenheim): Mundklingen
• Unter Hambach: Maiberg, Steinkopf, Stemmler
• Zell: Hemsberg, Streichling
• Zwingenberg: Alte Burg, Steingeröll

Grape variety list

There were no major changes compared to 2009. White wine varieties dominate with almost 80%. At the top, with a share of over 40%, is the unchallenged Riesling, followed by the up-and-comer Ruländer (Pinot Gris). The status 2018 (0 = smaller than 0.5 ha):