Hex Vom Dasenstein

The Hex vom Dasenstein wine-growing region lies around Kappelrodeck in the Ortenau, part of the Baden wine-growing region Baden. It stretches in the Achertal at the transition between the Black Forest and the Rhine plain. The landscape is shaped by steep slopes in the foothill zone of the Black Forest; above Kappelrodeck, the Dasenstein rock formation lies amid the vineyards.

The area has a mild climate and is described by the producer as part of Germany’s warmest wine-growing region. The vineyards are planted on mineral-rich granite weathering soils with loose, mineral-rich weathering material. More than 70 winegrowing families cultivate around 190 hectares. The work includes intensive manual labour, careful hand-harvesting and sorting of the grapes; in addition, quality management and environmentally oriented viticultural consultancy are documented.

Planting is made up of around 63 percent Blue Pinot Noir. Grey and White Pinot Noir together account for around 12 percent, Müller-Thurgau for 11 percent and Riesling for 7 percent. In addition, 1.5 percent is Merlot, 0.5 percent is Gewürztraminer and 5 percent is for other varieties such as Traminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Scheurebe, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Tempranillo. The region is primarily associated with Pinot wines; in addition to the prevailing Pinot Noir, red and white wines are produced.

The producers’ cooperative was founded in 1934. Before the reform of German wine law in 1971, the wines from Kappelrodeck were listed under individual vineyard plot names. After that, the vineyards around Kappelrodeck, according to the local legend from 1356, were given the name Hex vom Dasenstein; the producer refers to it as a single-vineyard site. Pinot Noir red wines mature in large wooden casks, sometimes followed by further maturation in barriques. For selected Grosses Gewächs wines, vinification is partly carried out with spontaneous fermentation.