Welcome...
... to the Geological Circuit through the vineyards of the wine town Lorch am Rhein.
Seven information panels have been installed along the 1.2 km circular trail containing many interesting facts about wine-making and the geology of Lorch.
Geology and wine-making an effective pair
Geology has more influence on the cultural landscape than we would normally expect. Subsurface rocks form the substrate, in which the vine finds a foothold and which also provides it with water and nutrients. This much is obvious. However, the geology is the main reason why it is even possible to produce wine in Lorch. The steep slopes were carved into the landscape by the river Rhine, a process with a profound effect: here, climate, rocks and soil combine to produce the best vineyards.
Climate: The slopes on the right side of the Rhine Valley face the southeast, towards the sun. A slope can receive up to 30% more solar radiation than a level area, which means that slopes are quicker to warm. In addition to this, the Rhine Valley vineyards are also protected from the winds blowing from the Taunus and Hunsrück heights.
Geology and soil: When the Rhine carved its valley into the mountains, the underlying rocks were exposed. Weathering and erosion brought fresh soil substrates containing weathered silicates. Ice age winds blew along the valley, carrying a valuable load: Loess, a fertile mineral dust. The wind blew up the slopes and deposited the material there. These geological events produced perfect vineyard soils.
Terroir Hessen
The term TERROIR describes the unique effect of provenance on the character of a wine. It is the result of the combination of the site conditions and the creative work of the wine-maker.
As part of the project TERROIR HESSEN (www.terroir-hessen.de), the Rheingau Wine-growers Association commissioned the Geisenheim Research Centre to identify the properties of the vineyard locations and demonstrate how these are linked to the typicality of the Riesling wines. With a little sense of discovery you can taste the diversity of the Rheingau region in your wineglass. Take a walk along the Geological Circuit to experience the local TERROIR of Lorch.