Location and Landscape
Hasensprung is an official single vineyard in the cadastral area of Winkel in the town of Oestrich-Winkel in the Rheingau. The site extends from the eastern edge of the Johannisberg in the Ansbach valley towards Schloss Vollrads. The classified VDP parcels lie at around 110 to 160 metres above sea level, are oriented to the south to south-west and have a slope of three to 15 per cent.
Soils and Climate
The VDP describes the soil as fertile loess clay. On the further Hasensprung slope, deeper loess and shallow gravel and loess-clay soils are also found. The upper slope area is exposed to westerly winds and to the outflow of cool evening air; in connection with sunny days, these conditions are described as beneficial for healthy grapes.
Grape Variety and Wines
The classified grape variety grown there mainly is Riesling. The VDP lists Hasensprung as VDP.GROSSE LAGE®. The classified VDP area comprises 26.00 hectares, while the broader defined named slope is described as 97 hectares. The wines from Hasensprung are considered to be fruit-forward and characterised by elegant acidity.
Name and Traditions
The name Hasensprung is locally explained either by a former large population of hares or by historically narrow parcels of land that, a hare was said, could jump over. A local legend links a Hasensprung wine from the Brentano estate from the year 1811 with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and his West-östlicher Divan. For a 2019 Winkeler Hasensprung Riesling, it is also documented that there are vines around 45 to 50 years old, a twelve-hour maceration time, foot pressing, and that it is aged in 600- and 1,200-litre wooden vessels with two years’ maturation on full lees.
