Location and Climate
Burrweiler is a local municipality in the district of Südliche Weinstraße in Rhineland-Palatinate. The village lies on the edge of the Haardt to the west of the Upper Rhine Plain, about seven kilometres south of Edenkoben, and belongs to the Pfalz as well as to the Südliche Weinstraße region. Below the Annaberg, the St.-Anna Chapel, at around 423 metres above sea level, shapes the hillside location above the village. Burrweiler describes spring as early and mild; in most cases, milder days set in as early as March.
Vineyard Sites and Soils
The Burrweiler single-vineyard sites in the Bischofskreuz collective area include Altenforst, Schäwer, Schloßgarten and St. Annaberg. Altenforst is oriented to the south-east and lies at about 265 metres above sea level, with a slope gradient of five to 15 percent. Schäwer has a south orientation, 270 to 295 metres in altitude and a slope of 20 to 30 percent. Schloßgarten is oriented to the south-east at about 210 to 240 metres, with a slope of two to 15 percent.
In Schäwer, Devonian grey slate, weathered Buntsandstein, loam and slope debris are found. Altenforst is characterised by red Buntsandstein, whereas Schloßgarten has Buntsandstein and, locally, Muschelkalk. St. Annaberg has sandy soils.
Vine Stock and Wine Profile
The vineyard register lists planted vineyard area of 37.3 hectares for Altenforst, 23.0 hectares for Schäwer and 75.3 hectares for Schloßgarten. St. Annaberg is recorded as a monopoly in single ownership and is described as a terraced site, organically farmed, below the St.-Anna Chapel.
For Altenforst, Riesling and Spätburgunder are specified, for Schäwer Riesling and for Schloßgarten Weißer Burgunder, Grauer Burgunder and Chardonnay as the classified grape varieties. In the St. Annaberg monopoly, the focus is on Riesling. The wines described there range from cool and salty to floral and fruity; individual cuvées are fermented in Pfälzer oak.
History
Burrweiler was first mentioned in a document on 7 April 1275. A deed transferred a tithe and patronage right in Bubenwilre to the Cistercian nuns’ monastery of Heilsbruck. On the Annaberg, a chapel was founded in 1765; the present St.-Anna Chapel was built in 1895.
