Location and municipality
Roxheim is a local municipality in the Bad Kreuznach district in Rhineland-Palatinate and belongs to the Rüdesheim collective municipality. The town lies north of the Nahe by the Katzenbach at an elevation of about 160 metres and forms part of the wine-growing region Nahe.
Vineyard sites and soils
The Roxheim wine-growing sites include Berg, Birkenberg, Höllenpfad and Sonnenberg. The south-facing Roxheimer Berg lies at 230 to 260 metres above sea level and has an average slope of 35 per cent. Its soil consists of red slate (Rotliegend).
Birkenberg is a south-facing hillside vineyard with a gradient of about 40 to 70 per cent and predominantly weathered sands of the Rotliegend. The Höllenpfad and the 6-hectare large VDP.GROSSE LAGE Im Mühlenberg are characterised by weathered red Rotliegend sandstone. Sonnenberg is situated on a plateau of around 220 metres in height with Pleistocene gravel-loam soil over sand.
Winegrowing and classification
A winegrowing document from the year 773 provides evidence of vineyards in Roxheim in connection with a donation to the Fulda Abbey. For the Roxheimer Berg, the VDP Riesling is listed as a classified grape variety and 25.05 hectares of classified vineyard area. Roxheimer wines are also produced from Burgundian grape varieties; listed are Riesling, Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder, Spätburgunder and Dornfelder.
The Roxheimer Berg and the Roxheimer Höllenpfad are classified as VDP.ERSTE LAGE. Within the Höllenpfad, the Mühlenberg carries the classification VDP.GROSSE LAGE.
Style and production
Rieslings from Höllenpfad and Birkenberg are described as fine-fruited and shaped by the fine-grained sandstone of the Upper Rotliegend. Burgundian wines are associated with plots rich in loam and loess. A documented Höllenpfad Riesling has been produced dry; the weathered red sandstone is said to be linked to spicy and peppery aromas.
For a documented Höllenpfad vintage, selective hand harvesting, vine ages of about ten to 40 years and a yield of around 35 hectolitres per hectare are mentioned. The wine was gently pressed, fermented and matured in large wooden casks as well as in stainless-steel tanks.
