Location and classification
Kalkgrube is a single-vineyard site in Frankweiler in the Pfalz. It belongs to the wine-growing region Südliche Weinstraße and to the Großlage Königsgarten. In the cadastral area of Frankweiler, 95.8 hectares of vineyard land are listed.
Topography and soils
Kalkgrube lies parallel to Ringelsberg and has a south-easterly exposure. Differences in altitude are linked to different layers of soil. Documented are shell limestone soils covered by loess; individual plots are also shaped by massive limestone rock.
Grape varieties and wine styles
For this site, Riesling, Silvaner, Traminer, Muscat and Spätburgunder are documented. Wines from Kalkgrube also include Riesling, Weißburgunder, Spätburgunder and Rieslaner. Dry Rieslings, dry Weißburgunder and dry Spätburgunder are evidenced.
Cultivation and ageing
For a Weißburgunder from Kalkgrube, selective hand-harvesting is documented. Yield was 36 hectolitres per hectare for a Weißburgunder of the 2021 vintage and 39 hectolitres per hectare for a Riesling of the 2023 vintage. For wines from this site, spontaneous fermentation as well as maturation in wooden casks and in stainless-steel tanks are documented.
