Location and geography
The Pfaffenberg is the wine site Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg in Hattenheim, a district of Eltville am Rhein in Rheingau. The area covers about 6.0 to 6.2 hectares. The clos, enclosed by a historic stone wall, lies on a documented slope facing south towards the River Rhine.
Soils and protection
The soil consists of deep, calcareous loess with gravelly sections. Protection is provided by the surrounding walls, the settlement of Hattenheim to the east, and the buildings and old trees of Schloss Reichartshausen to the west. The walls were built in the 18th century and originally served to protect the vines from grape thieves.
History and classification
The wine site was connected, at the latest since the 12th century, with the Reichartshausen estate and Eberbach Abbey, and remained in its ownership until secularisation in 1803. In 1816 the Schönborn family acquired the estate and the associated land; the Pfaffenberg is documented as being owned as a monopolistic property of Schloss Schönborn. In the Hessian wine sites register, Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg is listed as a single site and, in the VDP, documented as VDP.GROSSE LAGE®.
Varietals and wine styles
Riesling is documented for the Pfaffenberg. The wines associated with the site show a combination of fruit and acidity. Dry Riesling is documented as well as the Prädikatswein styles Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese.
