Winery HL Menger

Originally reserved to the priest only, nowadays open to everyone

“Frühmesse” is the German word for the early mass, a holy catholic mass, which the priest read in the early morning, before starting work. The grapes and wines from the single vineyard "Alsheimer Frühmesse" were apparently used to pay such a priest or chaplain. The vineyard was first mentioned in a document in 1721 under the name "zur Frühmeß" (engl. For early mass). Many Rheinhessen grape varieties grow on fertile loess soil. Loess is a very soft material thanks to which there can also be some hollow trails found in the municipality. These are paths cut deep into the landscape, created by erosion and time. Today they are a precious refuge for animals and nature.

• Discover the other single vineyard of Alsheim: Fischerpfad
• Discover the single vineyard via Rheinterrassenweg
• Information about the hollow paths of Alsheim 
• Rheinhessen blog: article about hollow paths
• Also worth a visit: the Heidenturmkirche in Alsheim 

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 

Bornheimer chicken 
Feathered fowl? No, living hedge! 

Juicy corn-fed chicken with Pinot Gris or rather Mediterranean-spiced, grilled chicken drumsticks with Pinot Noir? The Burgundy varieties like to grow on loess and volcanic rock in the single vineyard "Bornheimer Hähnchen". But no, the proud fowl is not the eponym here. The Old High German "hagan" denoted a demarcated area of land. And where is the wall then? This demarcation did not have to consist of stones, but could also be enclosed with a living hedge. The Bornheimer Kuckucksturm, a Hiwwelrast, is located in the middle of the single site. 

> Tapping at the Hiwwelrast Kuckucksturm: https://hiwwelrast-kuckucksturm.de/ 
> Compare other vineyards with animal names: Wöllsteiner Äffchen or Gau-Weinheimer Geyersberg. 
> By the way: There is also the village Hahnheim near Mainz.

The location was mentioned around 1500 with the name "yn the gewanden against the heyligen Creuz". The name of the location refers to a corridor.