Location and municipal area
Schweppenhausen is a municipality in the Bad Kreuznach district in Rhineland-Palatinate. It lies on the Guldenbach on the north-eastern edge of the Soonwald and is surrounded by forests, fields and vineyards. The municipality is located at an elevation of 195 metres and covers an area of 3.05 square kilometres. Schweppenhausen belongs to the wine-growing region Nahe.
Viticulture and vineyard sites
In the official register of vineyard sites, the vineyard sites Schloßgarten and Steyerberg are listed for Schweppenhausen. The Steyerberg is a south-facing slope with a gradient of about 33 to 45 degrees and weathered slate soils. Because of the terrain, work with machines is only possible between the rows of vines; further work such as tending the vines, thinning, growth regulation and selective harvesting is carried out by hand.
History and wine-growing practice
The first reliably documented mention of Schweppenhausen dates from 1125. Until the completion of the Hunsrück Railway in 1889, agriculture and viticulture were the most important foundations for life for most of the inhabitants. After that, wood processing and other industries increased in importance. According to the local operation, the wine-growing areas on the Steyerberg have been farmed since 1989 in accordance with Demeter guidelines. Documented, among other things, are dry white wine cuvées and natural wines that are fermented spontaneously and bottled unfiltered.
