Location and climate
Sankt Martin is a wine-growing community on the eastern edge of the Haardt, at the transition between the Palatinate Forest and the Upper Rhine Plain. The town belongs to the wine-growing region of Pfalz. Many hours of sunshine, an average temperature of around 11 °C, and the protection provided by the Palatinate Forest against cold air and excessive rainfall shape the region’s conditions.
Sites and soils
The vineyards lie on the slopes above the historic town centre. The single vineyards Baron and Kirchberg are officially entered in the register of wine-growing sites and form part of the Großlage Schloß Ludwigshöhe. The Kirchberg am Wingertsberg is characterised by red sandstone; for the Baron, heavy loam soil is documented.
Wingertsberg and winegrowing
The terraced steep slope at Wingertsberg was developed until 2017 on land that had previously become overgrown. Eight winegrowers cultivate the area, combining winegrowing with nature conservation, and there they harvest all the grapes by hand. The Kirchberg comprises 6.0 hectares of planted vineyard area, the Baron 160.1 hectares.
Grape varieties and wines
In the Sankt Martin vineyards of Christian Hormuth, among other varieties, Riesling, Grauburgunder, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Spätburgunder, Merlot and Syrah are grown. A dry Riesling is documented for the Kirchberg, and a dry St. Laurent for the Baron. The Hormuth family has been connected with Sankt Martin since 1609.
