Site and soils
The Ölberg is the single vineyard Hohentengener Ölberg near Hohentengen on the High Rhine in the wine-growing region Baden. The vineyard lies close to the High Rhine, is oriented to the south and comprises lower, middle and upper slope areas. The upper area is described as a steep slope site.
Geologically, the Hohentengener Ölberg is located on Upper Freshwater Molasse, which was formed around 15 to 5 million years ago. The soils described regionally are medium-deep, gravelly and partly calcareous, consisting of loam over marl and sandstone. According to the person farming the site, there is also material transported from the Rhine in the form of Alpine moraines, loess and loam, and in parts of the upper slope gravel, stones and a layer of slate.
Vineyard areas and grape varieties
A contiguous vineyard area of 20 hectares is cultivated around the Engelhof. Documented varieties include Müller-Thurgau, Gutedel, Spätburgunder, Chardonnay, Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder, Cabernet Mitos, Johanniter and Solaris. The lower slope is planted with Müller-Thurgau and Gutedel, the middle area with Spätburgunder and the upper steep slope site with Chardonnay.
Wines and maturation
From the Ölberg, dry wines of Müller-Thurgau, Spätburgunder and Chardonnay are documented. Müller-Thurgau and Gutedel from the lower slope are described as fruit-forward, as is the Spätburgunder from the middle area, which is additionally considered expressive. The Chardonnay from the upper steep slope site is associated with a mineral character. According to the person farming the site, the wines are vinified gently.
History of viticulture
Viticulture at the site can be traced back to the Merovingian period and reached its greatest extent in the Middle Ages. Citizens of the nearby Swiss town of Kaiserstuhl once cultivated up to 120 hectares of vines there. After neighbouring plots were consolidated, 20 hectares were replanted with vines in 1982; the first harvest took place in 1986.
