When the visibility is good, you can see the Melibokus, the highest hill in Germany's smallest wine region, the Hessische Bergstrasse. Attracted by the Mediterranean climate, the Romans settled along the “strate montana” and began growing wine in this region. The Bergstrasse is known as the spring garden of Germany.
The first official record of wine-growing in the Bergstrasse dates back to the 8th century, in connection with the former imperial abbey Lorsch, today a world heritage site. In 1971 the Hessische Bergstrasse was established as the second autonomous wine region in Hessen next to its big brother the Rheingau.

The Hessische Bergstrasse is characterised by a large variety of soils, which is a result of the geology on the flank of the Upper Rhine Rift Valley. Numerous side valleys subdivide this hilly landscape causing small scale variations of micro-climate. These conditions result in the large diversity of vine varieties grown here. Despite its small size, wine-lovers will appreciate this  exciting and interesting region. Pure terroir!

Of course, Riesling is top of the list of varieties, followed by Pinot Noir. Less wide-spread are Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc, and a diverse range of specialities including Mediterranean and historic varieties such as Red Riesling, grandfather of our main variety in Hessen!

The region stretches from the Starkenburg area centred around Heppenheim to Seeheim and includes a small area in Gross-Umstadt known as the Odenwald wine island. The wine region is subdivided into 23 individual vineyards covering an area of 436 ha. Only 0.3 % of the total wine produced in Germany originates from the Hessische Bergstrasse, making these wines something of a rarity.