Location and classification
Bürgel is a single vineyard site in the district of Dalsheim of Flörsheim-Dalsheim. It lies in the Wonnegau, a sub-region of Rheinhessen, and forms part of the collective vineyard of Burg Rodenstein. Bürgel is officially listed as a vineyard-name in the wine-growing sites register of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Aspect and terrain
The vineyard stretches along the west side of Dalsheim from the upper edge of the slope down to the Fleckenmauer. To the north, it borders the Dalsheimer Steig, and to the south the Nieder-Flörsheimer Goldberg area. The extensive site covers 84 hectares and lies at about 170 to 260 metres above sea level. It is orientated from south-east to east; the classified sub-area has a southern to south-eastern aspect and a slope gradient of 10 to 35 per cent.
Climate and soils
Bürgel is regarded as a very well-protected site with a southern to south-eastern aspect and high levels of sunshine. Documented are calcareous loess-pararendzina with deep, fertile loam and a high capacity for water storage available to plants. Further soils are calcareous rendzina and Terra fusca. The shallow to medium-depth, stony and strongly calcareous rendzina soils are well aerated and store only limited water. In the classified sub-area, shell limestone over loess with tertiary clays is described.
Grape varieties and wines
For the site, Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder and Spätburgunder are documented. In the 13.67-hectare sub-area classified as VDP.GROSSE LAGE, Chardonnay and Riesling are also mentioned; locally, Chardonnay and Müller-Thurgau are also recorded. Spätburgunder is the most important grape variety there. Bürgel is associated with still and sparkling wines based on Pinot, whose calcareous soils promote balanced acidity and mineral characteristics. The vineyard name has been attested since 1286 as “retro montem” and since 1358 as “uf dem berge”; Bürgel is derived from the designation for a mountain or hill.
