Location in the Alsenz Valley
Bayerfeld-Steckweiler is a local municipality in the Donnersberg district in Rhineland-Palatinate. The village lies in the Alsenz Valley, about eight kilometres north of Rockenhausen. The Alsenz runs through Bayerfeld-Steckweiler and is a right-hand tributary of the Nahe.
Landscape and Winegrowing
The Alsenz Valley has a pronounced valley floor and steep slopes. On the steeper slopes there are dry, rocky areas and semi-dry grasslands. The sunny slopes were used for winegrowing in the past; many former vineyard terraces are now overgrown.
Location Mittelberg
The Steckweiler Mittelberg lies high above the Alsenz Valley on a ridge with a south-western to south-eastern orientation. The roughly 3.5-hectare vineyard site is designated as the southernmost vineyard site in the growing region Nahe. It is wind-exposed and well ventilated, which reduces the risk of late frost and susceptibility to fungal diseases.
Grape Varieties and Wines
At Mittelberg, Riesling, Spätburgunder, Silvaner and Grauburgunder are planted. Documented are Riesling Spätlese, Riesling Auslese and Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese. For a Mittelberg wine, mash fermentation with about 30 per cent hand-tended whole grapes, co-fermentation over six weeks and ageing on full lees until spring is described.
