TERROIR HESSEN - Enjoy the difference!

RESIDUAL LOESS OVER CLAY MARL. The combination of these fine sediments results in a fertile, calcareous, base nutrient-rich and moist location with special ripening conditions.
     The soil consists of two very different substrates: residual loess and clay marl dating from the Tertiary period. The organic surface layer ensures a continuous supply with organic nutrients and improves the soil structure. This covers a dark, humus-enriched topsoil. The plough horizon consists of residual loess. The soil is friable and provides the plants with an excellent supply of water and nutrients. The profusion of pores facilitates the circulation of air in the rooting zone.
     The residual loess covers “heavy” clay marl, which dates from the Tertiary period. This very fine sediment is extremely dense and difficult for roots to penetrate. Since this layer is also an effective barrier for water, it tends to accumulate at the residual loess/clay barrier in spring. Consequently, these soils are slow to warm. However, there is no risk of water stress in these locations - the residual loess is able to provide plants with water and nutrients even during droughts.
     One of the outstanding properties of the calcareous clay marl is the large mineral nutrient reservoir. This sediment contains large supplies of minerals such as calcium, potassium or magnesium.

DHE ROCK
Clay marls are calcareous fine sediments. Clay denotes any particle with diameters less than < 2µm. These are the finest particles in the soil. These clay sediments were deposited about 18 to 25 million years ago in still and brackish basins of the receding Tertiary sea. These sediments contain many fossils including the brackish water inhabiting mussel Cyrena, after which the sediment “Cyrena Marl” was named.
     During the ice ages loess was deposited over the marl. Loess is a windblown, fine-grained calcareous sediment. The loess was formed in the periglacial dry climate of the ice ages (Pleistocene). Strong wind picked up the calcareous dust from the bare ground and deposited it in the surrounding landscape. Percolating water dissolved the calcium carbonate and left a silty clay residue. Oxidised iron turns the sediment brown. Clay minerals are formed from the dissolved minerals thus

CLAY MARL

Hortic anthrosol form- ed on residual loess over clay marl.
A calcareous and moist location, rich in base nutrients with good ripening conditions.

The Main created the slope and the loess dresses it.
The clay causes water to accumulate in the subsoil. Clay marls are found beneath wide parts of the location Hochheimer „Hölle“. Hölle (Hell) is derived from the old German word “Halde” for steep slope and has nothing to do with “hell”.

SOIL PROPERTIES

very high soil water capacity

poor rootability

moderate aeration

moderate warming capacity

high calcium carbonate content

very high mineral nutrient potential

increasing the clay content of the loess. Decalcified, brown loess with an elevated clay content is called residual loess. Percolating water transports clay minerals (<2 µm) into the subsoil where they accumulate. This process results in a soil type called luvisol. This is a decalcified soil identified by a distinct clay depleted horizon and an illuvial horizon where clay accumulates. These horizons are usually missing in the vineyards. Either they have been eroded away, or they have been thoroughly mixed together by ploughing.
Clay marl soils are found in Hochheim (e.g. Hölle), Wicker (e.g. Nonnberg), Hattenheim (Schützenhaus, Erbach (Marcobrunn) and many other locations in the Rheingau.