Winery Karl May - Liebenauer Hof

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 

Rieslings under the wings of birds of prey

In Medieval times, birds of prey were called vultures (German: “Geier”). And these animals are indeed the eponym here. The mountain used to have wooded areas and vultures nested there. The location was already mentioned in documents around 1500 with the name "ym nesten geierßbuhl". On the carbonate-rich loess soils with a high lime content, mainly Rieslings grow, but also many other grape varieties. The wines from there are powerful and expressive – just like birds of prey.

• Discover the other sites in Bechtheim: Hasensprung, Rosengarten, Stein
• Various hiking trails run through Bechtheim and its vineyards: Rheinterrassenweg, Lutherweg, Pilgerweg Ortsschleife Bechtheim and the village's own educational wine trail with old agricultural equipment.

Miniature castles, church on a hill and Riesling on limestone

Site names with "gold" are beautiful - and frequent. They refer to the esteem in which the site is held. The "Osthofener Goldberg" is a limestone site and brings a cool, salty minerality to the wines. Winegrowers cherish especially Rieslings from this vineyard like a treasure. But also Chardonnay and other varieties. A chapel was built on the mountain as early as the Middle Ages, in the 6th century. It was dedicated to Saint Remigius, Bishop of Reims. The parish basilica was built in the 11th century. Even today, the mountain church is enthroned up there. In the center of the site: the "White Cottage", built in the second half of the 19th century, just as well as a table of wine. 

> On the regional history of Osthofen: https://www.regionalgeschichte.net/index.php?id=3463 
> Osthofen has numerous vineyard cottages from the 19th century, built by wealthy winegrowers' families in the style of the Gründerzeit. Besides the "White Cottage" there is the "Red Cottage", the "Blümel Cottage" and the most beautiful among them: the Leckzapfen. See the location Osthofener Leckzapfen. 
> Hike (2.5 h / 8.3 km) to the miniature castles: https://www.osthofen.de/osthofen-erleben/aktiv-natur/wandern/miniaturburgen-im-wonnegau