Location and landscape
Kirchenstück is a wine-growing site in Herxheim am Berg in the Pfalz and forms part of the Mittelhaardt. The roughly 50-hectare site extends to the east and north of the village, lies above Herxheim and reaches to the edge of the settlement. Individual terraces and numerous different sub-areas shape the area.
Soils and grape varieties
The soil profile consists of calcareous loess loam with tertiary limestone. Depending on the sub-area, strong or massive limestone as well as limestone outcrops are described beneath a layer of loamy soil. A documented parcel is considered one of the cooler sites around Herxheim and is exposed to strong, uniform winds. In Kirchenstück, among others, Riesling, Weißburgunder and Spätburgunder are planted.
Wine style and vinification
A documented Kirchenstück Riesling is described as faceted and complex, with fruit and a pronounced mineral character, and was bottled as a dry quality wine from the Pfalz. A Kirchenstück Weißburgunder shows mineral, structurally firm features, pressure, and a clear expression of limestone.
For a Riesling, fermentation took place in a small, chilled stainless-steel tank. For the documented Kirchenstück Weißburgunder from the 2024 vintage, the grapes were selectively hand-harvested in several passes, fermented spontaneously in tonneaux, and left for ten months on full lees. The wine was bottled after one year, without filtration and fining.
Name and single site
The name Kirchenstück refers to the St. Jakob’s Church in Herxheim am Berg. Kirchenstück is one of three recognised single sites of the municipality. Viticulture in Herxheim has been documented since the eighth century; after the wine law reform of 1971, the locally designated sites initially remained limited to Honigsack, Himmelreich and Kirchenstück. Since the 1980s, the grapes have also been harvested mechanically in the municipality, while wire-training is used there already since the 19th century.
