
The Black Lord lies at the beginning of the Zellertal Basin, which opens out a few kilometers further east and ends with the Frauenberg. Here, as there, the subsoil is pure limestone. The key difference lies in the microclimatic conditions. While the Frauenberg is characterized by its open, exposed location and windy conditions, the Black Lord stands on a steep, narrow fault line, which further protects the site from rain and the full force of the sun. The site was first mentioned in the records of Saint Philip of Zell. This Irish monk Christianized the region around 700 AD and founded a monastery near Zell (cellular). Saint Philip planted his sacramental vineyard in this location, a quarter of an hour's walk from his monastery. So that the monks wouldn't have to walk back every time they prayed, they also erected a cross there, which weathered black over time and gave the site its name. Thanks to written records, the Schwarzer Herrgott is now one of the oldest documented wine-growing areas. The border between Rheinhessen and the northern Palatinate runs right through the Schwarzer Herrgott.