Location and classification
Narrenkappe is an officially listed single vineyard site in Bad Kreuznach in the wine-growing region Nahe. The vineyard lies north of the town on a small ridge at an elevation of around 200 metres and, according to the vineyard register, comprises 29.1 hectares of planted vineyard area.
Relief and climate
The slopes, oriented from the south-west to the south, show a gradient of about 5 to 30 percent. The site slopes mostly gently to the south; individual plots are located close to the ridge. Ridge-adjacent areas receive cooling in the evening and at night, while the southern orientation supports ripening. The site is also described as being protected from northerly winds.
Soil and name history
The geological subsoil is assigned to the Upper Rotliegendes. It describes red, weakly consolidated sandstone with a loess cover, as well as slope debris that is gravelly and fine-sandy; in the subsoil, gravel and stones occur in places. The name has been documented since 1684 and is traced back to “Norr” or “Narr” for a dry or infertile gravel and stone area, and to “Kappe” or “Kuppe” for a hillock.
Grape varieties and wines
Riesling is the most important documented grape variety. In addition, Sauvignon Blanc from a producer’s plot and Scheurebe are documented for the site. Documented wines include dry Rieslings as well as Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese wines. Descriptions mention ripe fruit, fresh acidity and mineral or stony notes. For individual wines, among other things, hand harvest, reduced yields, maceration time on the skins, fermentation with vineyard-inherent yeasts, yeast ageing and maturation in a stainless-steel tank are documented.
