Already 2,000 years ago, the Romans planted the first grapevines on the sun-kissed slopes of so-called „strata montana“ or mountain road, an old Roman trade route. Remains of a Roman „villa rustica“, located in the north of Heppenheim, testify to this interesting fact. Today, the mild climate, stunning landscape, majestic medieval castles and numerous historic towns are the landmarks of the Bergstrasse wine region.
 
With 180 hectares of vineyards, Heppenheim is the largest wine city to be found in the Bergstrasse region and it belongs to the self-contained wine-producing region “Hessische Bergstrasse”. The Hessische Bergstrasse was officially defined and inaugurated in the 1971 Weingesetz (wine law). With some 441.50 ha of vineyards, the Hessische Bergstrasse is the smallest of Germany's 13 quality wine regions. Owing to the fact that the small wine-producing region has got many different soil types, the diversity of grape varieties grown in this region is remarkable. The region is planted to roughly 75 % white and 25 % red varieties.
 
The new red sandstone soils of the Schlossberg mountain and the Steinkopf produce the fruity, sophisticated Riesling wines for which the Bergstrasse is renowned. The loess-containing grounds located in the south of the city, is where a fiery as well as full-bodied Spätburgunder red wine (Pinot Noir) grows. Why not try a glass of an almost forgotten variety of wine – the Red Riesling? This fruity white wine is made in a natural way of red grapes. Red Riesling developed from the White Riesling as the result of a colour mutation. Already in the Middle Ages, this wine variety was well-appreciated in the Bergstrasse region. Only in 2002, the archetype of Riesling was officially licensed in Hesse. In Heppenheim, already 22 hectares are planted with these special wine grapes. 
 
Are you interested in discovering viticulture amidst the vineyards? Then the experience path “Wine and Stone”, a trail stretching over a total of 6.9 kilometres, presenting useful information on topics covering the wine, grape varieties, geology, climate, history, lifestyle, flora and fauna of the region will be the right choice for you or just go hiking on the Weinlagenwanderweg, a hiking trail (23 kilometres) through the vineyards.