Location and orientation
The Hardtberg is a vineyard site on the right bank of the Ahr in Rech, extending towards Dernau. The hillside site, which is predominantly oriented towards the west to south-west, receives favourable sunshine above all in the afternoon thanks to its late exposure to the sun.
Relief and soils
The site covers 28 hectares and lies at an elevation of 130 to 220 metres. Of this, 85 per cent are classified as steep-slope vineyard and 15 per cent as hillside vineyard. The soils consist of weathered slate with admixtures of greywacke and occasional loess clay.
Cultivation and grape varieties
4 hectares are planted with vines. A considerable portion of the difficult steep-slope sites, which have not been newly arranged, has been abandoned and is overgrown with hedges and bushes. The terraces are cultivated predominantly using labour-intensive single-post training. The documented plantings include around 2 hectares of Pinot Noir and 2 hectares of Riesling.
Wine character and classification
The Hardtberg is associated with fine, racy white wines as well as velvety, fuller red wines from loess clay parcels. The name refers to the topography: “Hardt” stands for a hill or mountain ridge. The site is listed as a single vineyard within the wine-growing region Ahr; Rech is one of the associated municipalities or municipal districts.
