Location and classification
The Mönchberg is an officially registered single vineyard in the Nahe winegrowing region, in the Nahe valley area and within the Großlage of Kronenberg. It is located within the town limits of Bad Kreuznach, in the district and in the cadastral district of Bad Kreuznach. The official site number is 510122; the planted vineyard area covers 20.6 hectares.
Topography, climate and soils
The plots of the Kreuznacher Mönchberg lie on a south-east-facing slope. The site is protected by the Soonwald, Hunsrück and Pfälzerwald. Annual rainfall of around 480 millimetres and more than 1,500 hours of sunshine per year are given. The deep, calcareous loess soils have good water-retention capacity.
Grape varieties and wine styles
Historically, Riesling and Pinot Blanc have been documented for the Kreuznacher Mönchberg. In addition, Riesling wines are also evidenced, including Riesling Spätlese and dry Riesling. A documented Spätlese is classified as a Prädikatswein Spätlese.
History and vinification
In the Middle Ages, Cistercians from Kloster Eberbach carried out farming and viticulture at the Mönchberg; the foundations of the estate date back to the year 1336. The woodland area of Firnsel also lay at the Mönchberg and was cleared after its sale in 1824 and converted into vineyards. For Mönchberg production, white wines are gently pressed and developed in barrels of 1,000 to 7,000 litres. Filtration takes place in stages and gently; red wines ferment on the skins in small 1,000-litre containers.
