THE WINE GROWING REGIONS of Hesse are strongly influenced by loess. This sediment is one of the best substrates for agricultural land use. Thick layers of loess blanket the landscape between Lorchhausen and Heppenheim. Usually this light coloured, fine sediment lies hidden from view below the ground. Sometimes the loess is exposed along the steep sides of hollow ways. The ice age dust is found in most of the vineyard soils. Storm winds winnowed the fine dust particles from gravel beds deposited by wide rivers. The dust dropped out of the wind in shielded locations accumulating to thick loess beds. Loess mostly consists of silt particles (diameter 0.02 to 0.0063 mm) and contains quartz, feldspar, mica, various clay minerals and a lot of calcium carbonate. Iron oxides give the loess its yellowbrown colour.
      Mostly the original soil has been nearly completely washed away. The hortic anthrosol consists of a mixture of loess and residual loess. This means that the topsoil is rich in calcium carbonate. Below the deep-plough horizon lies the unweathered light coloured loess. The friable substrate makes it easy for the roots of the grapevine to penetrate deep into the soil to reach water and nutrients. The most important property of the loess is its high available soil water capacity. However, this does not prevent air from circulating in the pores. The silty soil is easy to manage but is also readily washed away. The natural nutrient reservoir of the loess provides plants with a rich supply of minerals. The loess provides the vines with plenty of water and nutrients even during droughts. Under favourable climatic conditions, loess soils are excellent for growing wine and provide the best ripening conditions.