Schick´sches Weingut
The farm, built in 1725 for the Schick family from Mainz, was bequeathed to the city of Mainz in 1906 by the last descendant of the family, including the associated vineyards. The vineyards are currently leased from Weingut Fleischer in Hechtsheim and marketed under the name “Weingut der Stadt Mainz”.
The farm building was sold separately in 2018 and, after extensive restoration, now serves as a private residence.
The property is listed in the monument register of the Mainz-Bingen district.
Entrance gate from the winery of the city of Mainz in 1937, the figure of the Madonna on the gate is now in the Landesmuseum in Mainz
Image source: Stadtarchiv Mainz, bpsf1950a
The farm – also known as the “former winery of the city of Mainz” or “Schick’sches Weingut” – was built in 1725 for Wendelin Schick from Mainz. He came from one of the most respected families in Mainz. In addition to vineyards, the estate also included fields and tree stands.
The former three-sided courtyard consisted of the residential building on the right, the former stables on the left and a barn lying across at the back of the courtyard (now demolished). Residential buildings and stables have a hipped roof. The residential building stands on a pedestal. The first floor was built solid, the floor above appears as a half-timbered structure. Probably in the residential house there was also the wine press house. Under the residential house is a cellar with cross vaults. In the coat of arms stone above the archway there is a winemaker’s knife and an angel’s head. To the right of the archway is another access via a pedestrian gate.
The estate initially remained in the possession of the Schick family for almost 200 years until Joseph Hermann Maximilian Schick, who was without descendants, bequeathed it to the city of Mainz in 1906. Older Harxheimers knew to report that he originally wanted to leave the winery to the community of Harxheim, but the community was not interested in this for several reasons. An anecdote says that Joseph Schick bequeathed his little dog Molly to Dr. Göttelmann, the mayor of Mainz at the time, in his will.
Pastor Würth reports in the chronicle of the Protestant community about an extraordinarily good wine year in 1911, in which the end of the harvest was celebrated with many processions in the village. The most beautiful parade is said to have been organized by the city of Mainz for its workers in the winery. They paraded through the alleys in colorful costumes and accompanied by musicians. The end of the procession was God Bacchus high on chariot, sitting on his throne, waving a golden cup. For the council families of the city of Mainz and the mayor at that time Göttelmann there was still a free meal and dance at the innkeeper Wenderoth in the house crown afterwards.
Autumn closing party at the winery of the city of Mainz 1911
Image source: Local community Harxheim
Autumn closing party at the winery of the city of Mainz 1913
Image source: Stadtarchib Mainz, bpsf6710a
View from Obergasse with winery of the city of Mainz, ca. 1935 (postcard cutout)
Image source: G. Krämer
The city of Mainz managed the winery itself or appointed administrators until the end of the Second World War. From 1946 she leased the winery, and from 1959 to 1993 Werner and Waltraut Husar were the tenants. Mr. Husar was an extremely innovative and quality-oriented winemaker. Due to their merits for the preservation of the winery, the couple was awarded the GREAT WAPPENSCHILD OF THE CITY OF MAINZ in 1985.
Since 1994, the winery has been leased to Weingut Fleischer in Hechtsheim. In the following years, the farm, which was in need of renovation at the time, was restored. From 1998 to 2012, the estate experienced a new heyday under restaurateur Frank Brunswick as a nationally renowned “Restaurant im Weingut der Stadt Mainz”. However, after the sublease for the restaurant expired, no new tenant was found.
In 2018, the farm was sold to the current owners, who use it for private residential purposes after extensive renovation.
Winery of the city of Mainz around 1967
Image source: Festschrift 1967: 1200 years of winegrowing community Harxheim
References:
Cöster, Werner (1995): Weingut der Stadt Mainz. In neuem Glanz unter neuer Führung. Dokumentation 1906 – 1995.
Krienke, Dieter (2011): Verbandsgemeinden Bodenheim, Guntersblum und Nieder-Olm. . .
. In: Ortgemeinde Harxheim (Hrsg.): Festbuch 2017. Harxheim. Eintausendzweihundertfünfzig. Selzen. .
Würth, Johannes (1909 – 1920): Aufzeichnungen in der Gemeindechronik der evangelischen Gemeinde Harxheim. Archive of the Protestant community of Harxheim.
