Location and wine-growing region
Ahrweiler is located in the lower Ahr valley, where the valley gradually narrows in the direction of the Mittelahr. The historic town borders on vineyard slopes and belongs to the Ahr wine-growing region, in the area of Walporzheim/Ahrtal and the Großlage Klosterberg. The Ahr valley has a northern climate and lies partly in the rain shadow of the Eifel; the regional annual precipitation is about 560 millimetres.
Sites and soils
The documented vineyards are mostly on steep slopes with a south, south-easterly, south-westerly or southern aspect and usually at altitudes between 100 and 180 metres. In Forstberg, the main area is entirely steep; in Daubhaus, around 80 percent of the area is steep and 20 percent is hilly. Depending on the location, the soils consist of greywacke and slate weathering material, loess, loess loam and slope-cover loam.
Grape varieties and wine styles
Spätburgunder is the predominant documented grape variety. In Daubhaus, Portugieser is also found; in Forstberg, Frühburgunder and Dornfelder have additionally been demonstrated. The wines from Daubhaus are described as full, silky and powerful. In Forstberg, the range extends from fine-fruited, characterful wines on greywacke soils to fuller wines on loess and loess loam; the Silberberg shows a similar spectrum between fine-fruited and fuller wines.
History of viticulture
Ahrweiler is recorded in the Prümer Urbar of 893 as “Ahrwilere”; town rights were confirmed in 1248. The Ahrweiler winemakers’ association was founded in 1874. Work in the vineyards takes place on steep, comparatively small plots and terraces, with hand-harvesting and manual selection during the harvest documented.
