Location and Topography
The single vineyard Kreuzberg lies west of Dolgesheim and extends towards Petersberg. It belongs to the cadastral district of Dolgesheim, covers 77 hectares and is situated at an altitude of about 165 to 210 metres. Its aspect ranges from north to east.
Soils and Wine Character
The documented soils include marl-pararendzina with calcareous loams and sands from tertiary marine deposits, as well as loess-pararendzina made of calcareous dust that was deposited by wind during the Ice Ages. Different grape varieties are grown on both soil types.
The marl soils are associated with full-bodied, powerful wines with balanced acidity. For white wines, exotic fruit, mango, honeydew melon and apricot are described; for red wines, dark fruit and smoky spice. The loess soils stand for rather light, fresh wines with medium structure, along with hints of yellow fruit, apple, peach, pear and citrus.
Name and Classification
The name of the site is already documented in 1501 as “am Crutzeberge” and goes back to an old field cross. Kreuzberg is classified as a single vineyard in the area of Nierstein and within the larger vineyard Krötenbrunnen of Rheinhessen.
Cultivation and Ageing
For Dolgesheimer Kreuzberg, organic farming has been documented since 2007, the renunciation of herbicides, the use of organic materials for nutrient supply and humus development, as well as cover cropping in every vine row. In addition, careful pruning and thinning of leaves and grapes are carried out. For white wines, short maceration times prior to pressing, partly spontaneous fermentation, gentle handling with little movement, and direct bottling are mentioned. Red wines undergo maceration for several weeks and then mature for longer in wooden casks and in the bottle.
