Winery u. Distillery Gutzler

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

Over 50 vineyard cottages - and a single well cottage

There is probably no village in Rheinhessen that could boast more vineyard houses: As many as 54 cottages adorn the vineyards of Westhofen. They were once shelters against the weather. In this particular one however, a spring was "protected" and a water reservoir was connected to it. The vineyard was first mentioned in a document in 1721 under the name "am brunnenhäusschen". The soils are characterised by clay marl with limestone and limestone rocks in the subsoil. “Terra Rossa", a red soil, is also found here. The winegrowers cultivate Riesling, Silvaner, Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Noir. One of the highest vineyards in Westhofen.

> Interesting facts about the Westhofen Wingertshäuschen: https://www.wonnegau.de/wissenswertes-wingertsheisjer 
From Wingertshäuschen to Wingertshäuschen: https://www.rheinhessen.de/wingertsheisje-wanderweg
> To the other single vineyards of Westhofen: Aulerde, Kirchspiel, Morstein and Steingrube 

The Original shaded by Liebfrauenkirche

A single vineyard of only 17 hectares - planted with Riesling and surrounded by a wall - leans against the Liebfrauenkirche in Worms. The church is, of course, the eponym. The Worms "Liebfrauenstift-Kirchenstück" is considered one of the most traditional vineyards in the world. Pilgrims publicised the name as early as the 17th century. The vineyard is also the origin of the "Liebfrauenmilch" (derivation of mönch, minch, milch). This is still a very successful export wine today, although it may come from different wine-growing regions. The original single vineyard site, on the other hand, is located exclusively "so weit der Turm seinen Schatten werfe" (as far as the tower casts its shadow) (a quote from winegrowing pioneer P. Bronner in 1834). The site is one of the German "highlights of wine culture".

> Info about the highlight of wine culture: https://www.deutscheweine.de/tourismus/hoehepunkte-der-weinkultur/hoehepunkte-der-weinkultur-detailseite/highlight/wormser-liebfrauenstift-kirchenstueck-so-weit-der-turm-seinen-schatten-werfe/ 
> Info about the Liebfrauenmilch: https://www.rheinhessen.de/liebfrauenmilch 
> Regional history: https://www.regionalgeschichte.net/rheinhessen/worms/kulturdenkmaeler/liebfrauenkirche.html