Location and Landscape
Wachenheim an der Weinstraße is located on the Haardt, at the edge of the Pfälzerwald, between Bad Dürkheim and Neustadt an der Deutschen Weinstraße. The municipal area links vineyards on the Haardt with forested valleys that lead into the Pfälzerwald. Wachenheim belongs to the wine region Pfalz and to the Mittelhaardt-Deutsche Weinstraße area.
Climate and Soils
The local climate is characterised by mild winters, warm summers, high mean temperatures, plenty of sunshine, few frost days and comparatively low rainfall. From the Haardt slopes and side valleys, downwash winds flow towards the higher-lying terraces. In the vineyards, there are Bunter sandstone, loess and loess loam, as well as locally calcareous components. The higher site Odinstal is located near the quarry on the Pechsteinkopf, where it is connected with basalt.
Viticulture in Wachenheim
In the municipal area there are around 500 hectares of vineyard land. Riesling is one of the defining grape varieties and in Wachenheim it is also grown and produced as a dry village and single-site wine. The winery Bürklin-Wolf has a long tradition of viticulture in Wachenheim, dating back to the late 16th century and the early 17th century. The winery Odinstal cultivates, above the town, around five hectares of its own vineyard land in the Monopol Odinstal, surrounded by meadows and mixed woodland. Work is carried out using biodynamic and nature-close methods.
History and Wine Sites
Historical evidence includes the remains of a Roman villa rustica and the Wachtenburg, whose construction began in the 12th century. A source from 1551 mentions the grape variety Harthengst, which is identified as Orleans, in the area around Dürkheim and Wachenheim. On the terraces of the Wachenheimer Schloßberg, Riesling grows at about 250 metres above sea level. The small plots are worked by hand or with a mechanised vineyard device; the wine is made from hand-picked grapes and is matured in a half-portion oak cask.
