Hipping

Read the audio guide

Hipping: a sense of place, steep slopes and skilled hands

A wine’s origins shape its character. A wine-growing region is a defined geographical area, within which districts, collective vineyard sites and individual sites all play a part. The recording recalls the reorganisation of German vineyard designations under the Wine Law of 1971. Here you stand in the middle of one such individual site: Hipping stretches above and below you and to either side.

A steep vineyard with a long history

Hipping extends from around 90 to 160 metres above sea level. Its upper slopes are particularly steep; the recording mentions gradients of up to 70 per cent. Harvesting here depends on careful work by hand.

The site is mentioned by name in a document dating from 1753, when it belonged to several Nierstein wine estates. The origin of its name remains uncertain. Suggested explanations include the Middle High German Hübel, meaning hill, and Hippe, the name of a tool.

From shallow rock to deeper soils below

On the slope, solid rock is reached at a depth of roughly one metre. At the foot of the hillside, however, fine red earth has accumulated over the centuries to form a layer around five to eight metres deep. Even within a single vineyard site, vines can therefore encounter different conditions.

Hipping’s south-easterly aspect brings sunshine from early morning. The soil’s ability to retain warmth, the nearby Rhine and shelter from prevailing westerly winds all contribute to its distinctive microclimate. Riesling develops small, intensely flavoured berries here. The experience and skill of the winegrowers also shape the individual wines that result.