Location and classification
Rottland Mountain is a legally registered single vineyard in the Rüdesheim district of Rüdesheim am Rhein in the Rheingau. It belongs to the large vineyard Burgweg and to the Johannisberg area. Within the private VDP classification, Rottland Mountain is classified as VDP.GROSSE LAGE; the classified area comprises 17.87 hectares.
Topography and climate
The vineyard site is located on the western edge of Rüdesheim, on the eastern flank of the Rüdesheimer Berg, near the Rhine gorge known as the Binger Loch. The slope, which is fully oriented to the south, lies at around 100 to 150 metres above sea level and has an incline of approximately 15 to 50 percent. The orientation ensures a high level of sunshine. The Rhine shapes the local climate; fog banks in the Rheingau valley can encourage the formation of noble rot.
Soils
The soils are stony and skeletal, with a high proportion of grey slate as well as, in part, quartzite and gravel. In some sections, a thin layer of loess lies on top. The strongly draining substrate stores little water, so parts of the site tend to dry out. The stones heat up quickly and release the heat slowly again.
Grape varieties and history
Riesling and Pinot Noir are classified for Rottland Mountain; both are regarded as the predominant grape varieties of the vineyard site. Wines from these varieties have been documented up to the ripeness levels Spätlese and Auslese, including in average years. The name Rottland goes back to Middle High German terms for clearing land or making land usable. Between 1031 and 1051, the Archbishop of Mainz is said to have granted Rüdesheim winegrowers a tract of land for clearing and cultivation.
