Location and History
Neu-Bamberg is an Ortsgemeinde in the administrative district of Bad Kreuznach in Rhineland-Palatinate. The vineyard sites belong to the Rheinhessen wine-growing area Rheinhessen, Bingen area and the Großlage Rheingrafenstein. The beginnings go back to the early late Middle Ages: around 1250, a new castle was built on a porphyry cone in the Appelbach valley, first mentioned in 1253. The name developed from Neue Baumburg to Neu-Bamberg. In 1285 the place was first expressly mentioned, in 1297 it was referred to as a town, and in 1330 it was granted the right to hold a weekly market.
Vineyard Sites and Areas
In the cadastral district of Neu-Bamberg, the single vineyard sites Heerkretz with 10.7 hectares, Eichelberg with 1.1 hectares, Kirschwingert with 4.4 hectares, and Kletterberg with 43.2 hectares of planted area are recorded. Eichelberg and Kletterberg are already documented under their historical names in 1521; Heerkretz was documented in 1841 as “in der Herkretz”. The name Kirschwingert is considered to be a misspelling of Kirchwingert and is associated with the earlier ownership by the church.
Soils and Topography
Heerkretz is a high-lying, rough site with slopes exposed to the south to southeast at around 160 to 280 metres above sea level. Steep sections, the influence of the weather from the Appelbach valley, and rhyolite or porphyry, scree slopes and quarries shape the site. Eichelberg has a shallow to medium-depth, stony sandy loam from volcanic rock with good drainage, low nutrient availability and good heat retention. In Kirschwingert there is a deep, calcareous Pararendzina made from loess. Kletterberg has Rotliegend/Rigosol with calcareous clay and fine sand, as well as sand Regosol from tertiary marine sands, gravel and rubble.
Grape Varieties and Wine Styles
Heerkretz is planted mainly with Riesling and Spätburgunder. The wines from Eichelberg are described as mineral, stony, smoky, and marked by citrus aromas, lively freshness and firm acidity. Kirschwingert is known for fruit-forward wines with notes of apple, peach, pear and citrus, moderate body, mild acidity and early drinkability. The Rotliegend/Rigosol areas of Kletterberg produce mineral, slightly herbal and fruit-aromatic wines with lively acidity and ageing potential, while the sand Regosol areas result in early-accessible, fruit-forward and slender wines.
