Location and classification
Sankt Kathrin is a single vineyard site in the municipality and cadastral district of Wolfsheim, in the area of Bingen, and in the Abtey region of Rheinhessen. In the 2024 vineyard site directory, the site is listed under vineyard site number 710125 and comprises 33.1 hectares of planted vineyard area.
Topography and climate
The vineyards lie at around 160 to 240 metres above sea level and are oriented to the south-west. The Wolfsheim vineyard area associated with Sankt Kathrin is described as cool and windy; the higher elevation contributes to cooler growing conditions.
Soils
Documented are calcareous clay marl Pelosol from clay-rich marine deposits of the Tertiary, as well as limestone Rendzina from tertiary marine deposits in connection with a calcareous algal reef. The deep, nutrient-rich Pelosol is strongly calcareous, contains clay that can swell, has limited water and air permeability, and presents difficult conditions for rooting. The shallow to medium-deep Rendzina is very calcareous, stony and sandy, and has good permeability to air and ability to warm up.
Silvaner and naming
For Sankt Kathrin, the Sankt Kathrin Silvaner is documented from Silvaner parcels exclusively used for this wine. The dry organic white wine is described as powerful and distinctive, with herbal and exotic fruit aromas. A partial must fermentation and ageing in stainless steel as well as in wooden vessels of varying sizes are part of the documented cellar work; the yields in the Silvaner parcels are deliberately kept low. The name of the site refers to a chapel dedicated to Saint Catherine, standing in open fields.
