Location and Name
The Schloßberg vineyard is locally referred to as the Saalecker Schlossberg. The single-vineyard site is located in Hammelburg in Franken, Bavaria, near Schloss Saaleck and about 200 metres from the Schloss Saaleck winery.
Topography and Soils
The site comprises steep slopes with a gradient of up to about 70 per cent. A section is known as Walterthal. Muschelkalk forms the geological basis; the soils are stony and, on the steep slopes, have a high proportion of stones as well as limestone rock.
Microclimate and Cultivation
A historical vineyard wall encloses large parts of the site and creates a separate microclimate. The forests above protect against cold winds. The vineyard is cultivated ecologically in accordance with Naturland standards, without synthetic pesticides and herbicides. The harvest takes place entirely by hand and without irrigation.
History and Grape Varieties
The vineyard is documented as early as 1298 in connection with the Fulda church’s property and belongs to the historical vineyards in the Ryholfsesthal, which is today called Saalecker Schlossberg. A stone wall built in 1719 encloses around six hectares and is in places still up to 2.5 metres high. In 2011, the town of Hammelburg sold the municipal winery, along with the associated vineyards, including Saalecker Schlossberg, to the Lange family. Planted varieties include, among others, Silvaner, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, Bacchus, Dornfelder, Domina, Zweigelt, Blauer Silvaner and Cabernet Blanc. The site produces red and white wines; among those documented are red wines from Dornfelder, Domina and Zweigelt, as well as white wines from Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau and Bacchus. Fermentation takes place in part spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, clarification without animal fining agents and with reduced sulphur use.
