Location and Landscape
Pleisweiler-Oberhofen is situated in the southern Pfalz at the edge of the Haardt, the eastern steep escarpment of the Palatinate Forest, near the Southern Wine Route. The municipality includes vineyards and wooded areas on the foothills and slopes of the Palatinate Forest. The location is associated with a mild climate.
Historical Background
Pleisweiler and Oberhofen were merged in 1828, as part of the Bavarian administrative reform, into today’s municipality. The local history documents Roman settlement traces, including remains of Roman cellars. Oberhofen is also mentioned in the ninth century as being the property of the Klingenmünster monastery.
Schloßberg Vineyard Site
The Schloßberg is registered in Pleisweiler-Oberhofen as a vineyard site designation within the winegrowing region of Pfalz. The vineyards extend along the slopes of the valley. The soils are described as loess, loam and limestone with good drainage; in addition, medium Holocene silts occur in the topsoil and moderately heavy Pleistocene sands occur in the subsoil.
Grape Varieties and Vinification
For the Schloßberg, Riesling, Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder, Chardonnay, Silvaner, Spätburgunder and Blaufränkisch are documented. The documented wines include dry Chardonnays. The grapes are hand-harvested and processed gently. For Chardonnay, spontaneous fermentation in wood as well as fermentation in new 225-litre barriques and 500-litre tonneaux with subsequent longer lees ageing are documented.
