Location and classification
The Altenberg is a registered single vineyard in Meddersheim in the Nahe wine-growing region Nahe. The site belongs to the Großlage Paradiesgarten and is located on the middle Nahe, around two kilometres south-west of Bad Sobernheim. In the wine-growing sites directory of Rhineland-Palatinate, it is listed for the Meddersheim cadastral district with 51.7 hectares of planted vineyard area in the 2024 harvest edition.
Topography and soils
The Altenberg is described as a steep-slope site with predominantly southerly exposure, opening out towards the south-east. The historical vineyard areas belong to the centuries-old sites of Meddersheim. The predominant soils are clayey Rigosol-Regosol soils from red, low-lime unconsolidated sediments of the Oberrotliegend; deep ploughing also contributed to the formation of the vineyard soils.
Varieties and wine styles
Wines from Riesling and Spätburgunder have been documented from the Altenberg. These include dry Riesling and dry Spätburgunder. Historical bottlings also include Riesling Kabinett, Spätlese and Eiswein.
Production of a Spätburgunder
For a documented Spätburgunder bottling, the mash fermentation and fermentation take place in an open fermentation vessel. After around ten days, it is pressed; afterwards, the wine matures for approximately 15 months in a large wooden cask.
