Winery Dieter Michel

World famous and rich in stone

A bog (German: Moor) in Rheinhessen? Certainly not. The site was first mentioned in a document in 1282 with the name "in loco marstein" in a deed of donation to the Cistercian monastery of Otterberg (Pfalz) and can be interpreted as a "marker stone". In other words, it is a boundary stone or a landmark. It is indeed stony here: one stone found during clearing weighed up to 3.2 tons. In the upper soil layer, there are clay marl soils with limestone inclusions, and massive limestone rock underneath. Mineral Rieslings and Pinot Noirs bring world fame to the Westhofen winemakers. There are also plenty of vineyard cottages here, like the “Wingertshäusje Kommandozentrale".

> From Wingertshäuschen to Wingertshäuschen: https://www.rheinhessen.de/wingertsheisje-wanderweg
> To the other single vineyard sites of Westhofen: Aulerde, Brunnenhäuschen, Kirchspiel and Steingrube

11,000 virgins, an open-air stage, a wide variety of wines.

The name of the vineyard refers to the former Himmelgarten monastery in Alzey. It is dedicated to Saint Mary, the 11,000 Virgins and Saint John and was located in the western suburb of Alzey. Cistercian nuns lived there, since at least 1281. The single vineyard was first mentioned in a document in 1426 with the name "hinder hymmelgarten". No structural remains of the monastery are recognisable. However, the name remained. Various grape varieties grow on chalky, sandy loam. The "Freilichtbühne Dautenheim" (engl: “open air stage Dautenheim”) is located in the middle of this single vineyard.

• Information about Himmelacker Monastery:
• Discover this single vineyard via Mühlenradweg

No devil to be seen! Red wines on the famous southern slope

A significant landmark of the area: The imposing "Höllenbrand" sign, visible from afar on the A61 from Worms towards Alzey. Since 2016, the Rheinhessen logo has also been displayed on the terraced slope, which is 100 percent south-facing. The site was first documented in 1437 with the name "in dem hilprant" and in 1710 with the name "im Höllenrand". Both, the personal name Hildebrand and the Middle High German word "halde, hel, hölle" (for slope) could be the origin of the name. And the word "Brand" could belong to the Middle High German word "rant" and mean "mountain edge". So the hell fire has nothing at all to do with the devil. But the southern slope is as hot as hell: that's why winegrowers plant vines here for full-bodied wines, often red wines. It's a good thing that the soil - loess loam and limestone - has natural springs.

> Info about Gundersheim, which calls itself the "red wine paradise in the Wonnegau": www.gundersheim.de
> Discover the single vineyard via numerous hiking and biking trails. For example, on the Hiwwel route stage 4, Alzey-Worms, or via Mühlenradweg.