Location and landscape
Schweigen lies on the southern edge of the Pfalz, close to an international border. The village is situated at the edge of a wooded high plateau; vineyards extend along the adjacent drop-off and on the slopes.
Viticulture and soils
In viticulture around Schweigen, among other things, calcareous marl, shell limestone, loamy clay, sandstone and weathered sandstone are documented. The winery Friedrich Becker cultivates around 29.8 acres of vineyard area with reference to Schweigen. Around 80 per cent of the plantings are made up of Burgundy varieties; Riesling, Silvaner, Muscat and Traminer are also grown. The estate focuses on Pinot grape varieties and produces, among other things, Spätburgunder and Chardonnay from Schweigen sites.
History and interpretation
The present-day community associated with Schweigen was formed on 7 June 1969 through the merger of two previously independent villages. A wine education trail in Schweigen-Rechtenbach was set up by residents more than 50 years ago and was redesigned and reopened in 2021. The Friedrich Becker winery states that it intervenes as little as possible in the winemaking process in the vineyard and the cellar.
