Location and area
Altenberg is a named single vineyard site in Weisenheim am Sand within the Großlage Rosenbühl. In the 2024 vineyard directory it has the code 821204 and comprises 66.7 hectares of planted vineyard area. It lies to the south of the village and belongs to the Gewann designation Auf dem Altenberg.
Soils and grape varieties
For Altenberg, loess soils with a high lime content are described, as well as limestone as the soil type. Documented wines from the site are produced from Grauburgunder and Spätburgunder.
Wine styles
The documented Altenberg Grauburgunder is a dry white wine. Spätburgunder also produces a dry red wine and a brut sparkling wine as Pinot Blanc de Noir.
Winemaking and vineyard work
For the Pinot Blanc de Noir, healthy grapes are processed immediately; the initial portion is used and fermentation is carried out with temperature control in stainless steel and wood. Bottle fermentation lasts 18 months. For Spätburgunder, yields are reduced, the grapes are selected and picked by hand in several passes. After three weeks of maceration on the skins, the wine matures for 18 months in French barriques.
