Winery Michel-Pfannebecker

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

Once a quarry, today a vineyard

The single vineyard "Steingrube" begins directly at the village. It is characterised by limestone rocks with a thin layer of sandy loam. The site was first mentioned in a document in 1295 with the name "dicto stheingrube". The name of the vineyard refers to a quarry, which can still be easily traced today. Mineral Rieslings, but also Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc grow here.

> Regional history of Westhofen: https://www.regionalgeschichte.net/rheinhessen/westhofen.html 
> The quarry is no longer recognizable. But in Gundersheim, a neighboring village of Westhofen, the former quarry "Rosengarten" offers beautiful walks. Please be sure to follow the rules, nature reserve! https://wonnegau.bund-rlp.de/themen-und-projekte/naturschutzgebiet-kalksteinbrueche-rosengarten/ 
> To the other individual sites of Westhofen: Aulerde, Brunnenhäuschen, Kirchspiel and Morstein

Fire and flame for great wines

The single vineyard site "Flomborner Feuerberg" with its south-south-west orientation is indeed very sunny. The soil, consisting of sandy loam and above all limestone, stores heat very well. Therefore the name of the single vineyard does not come as a surprise. At night, however, everything cools down, as the vineyard has an altitude of 250 metres. Different varieties thrive here, such as Riesling, Pinot and Silvaner. Incidentally, the name of the village "Flomborn" does not come from the word "Flamme". It comes from a family name. Several churches, monasteries, convents and aristocrats had estates here. Among them was a "Rudewin von Flamburn", whose name appears in a document as early as 1208.

> More about the regional history of Flomborn https://www.regionalgeschichte.net/rheinhessen/flomborn.html