Location and Landscape
Kamp-Bornhofen is a municipality on the right bank of the Rhine in Rhineland-Palatinate. It lies between Rhine kilometre 567 and 569 in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Upper Middle Rhine Valley and belongs to the wine-growing region Middle Rhine, whose vineyards extend between Bingen and Bonn.
Winegrowing on the Middle Rhine
The landscape is shaped by a narrow Rhine valley with steep, rocky slopes. Winegrowing takes place predominantly on steep sites and on terraces and is therefore relatively labour-intensive. Protected hillside sites, plenty of sunshine and the warmer, reflecting influence of the Rhine favour cultivation. Typical soils of the region are clay-rich slate and greywacke; above Bornhofen, steep slate rock shapes the landscape.
Sites and Grape Varieties
The single vineyard sites associated with Kamp-Bornhofen are Pilgerpfad and Liebenstein-Sterrenberg. Riesling is the most important grape variety on the Middle Rhine. In addition, Spätburgunder, Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder and Müller-Thurgau are grown. Middle Rhine Riesling is described as being mineral and shaped by a lively, racy acidity.
Historical Context
Winegrowing in Kamp-Bornhofen is documented as early as before 949, through an account of a gift of vineyards in connection with the Frankish duke Hermann. The village lies below the castles of Liebenstein and Sterrenberg, which locally are known as the hostile brothers.
