Frankweiler in der Pfalz
Frankweiler is a place locally referred to as a Riesling wine-growing location in the Pfalz. The vineyard slopes lie about 200 to 300 metres above sea level. The Pfalz wine-growing region has an average annual temperature of around 10 °C, an average temperature during the growing period of 14.7 °C and about 655 millimetres of annual rainfall. The average direct sunshine falling on the vines during the growing period is around 665,000 Wh/m².
Vineyard sites and soils
The local wines often bear the names of the vineyard sites Biengarten and Kalkgrube. Biengarten is classified as VDP.ERSTE LAGE® with 16.61 hectares. The south-easterly site lies at 185 to 190 metres above sea level and has a slope of 10 to 25 percent. Its soils consist of calcareous marl and Bunter sandstone over limestone.
In the Kalkgrube, part of the area is characterised by massive limestone; differences in height within the site lead to several soil layers. Documented wines from the site include Riesling, Weißer Burgunder, Grauer Burgunder and Spätburgunder.
Wine-making and landscape
A documented Frankweiler Kalkgrube Riesling is a dry white wine as a Qualitätswein from the Pfalz. The grapes were selectively hand-harvested, processed gently at a yield of 39 hl/ha, fermented spontaneously and matured both in wood and in stainless steel.
A former stone quarry that exposes yellow sandstone is considered atypical for the area.
History of wine-growing
Frankweiler was first mentioned in 1249 as “Frankwilre”. Between 1249 and 1319, wine deliveries from Frankweiler to a monastery are documented. A survey in 1786 recorded 274 Morgen of vineyard area.
