Location and Classification
Herrgottspfad is a single vineyard site in the cadastral area of Gau-Odernheim. It belongs to the Großlage Petersberg and to the Nierstein sub-region in Rheinhessen; it is accordingly listed in the wine sites register of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Topography and Soil
The vineyards are on a steep slope that rises from Gau-Odernheim to the Petersberg, which is 246 metres high. The soil consists of deep, lime-rich clay, or marl-Pelosol from clayey deposits of the Tertiary sea. It is nutrient-rich and highly calcareous, has a high proportion of swellable clays, as well as limited water and air permeability. This makes rooting more difficult and ensures only moderate capacity for warming.
Grape Varieties and Wine Style
For Herrgottspfad, Riesling is documented. The Rieslings grown there are described as full-bodied and with high ripening potential. For a wine produced separately from a small, independently farmed plot, Weißburgunder is also documented, also known as Pinot Blanc. This dry white wine is described as full-bodied, dense and rich, with moderate acidity and a creamy texture.
History and Cultivation
The name of the site is traced back to processions that have, for centuries, led on church feast days to the summit of the Petersberg. There used to be a three-aisled basilica with a crypt dating from the tenth century; remains of the crypt were found from 1947 onwards. For the documented plot, old vines, humus management, manual thinning of the grapes, manual work on the leaves and hand-harvesting are specified. The Weißburgunder was fermented spontaneously in used barriques, subjected to bâttonnage, and left on the lees for up to twelve months.
