Location and classification
The Schloßberg is a single vineyard site in the district of Mettenheim in Rheinhessen. It belongs to the Nierstein area and to the larger site of Rheinblick. The vineyards lie to the north-east of Mettenheim on the Rhine terrace landscape and include terraced plots. In the official vineyard sites register 2024, for the cadastral district of Mettenheim, 108.1 hectares of planted vineyard area are listed.
Soil and mesoclimate
As a soil type, Löss-Pararendzina is documented. The soil, formed from calcareous wind-blown dust deposited during the ice ages, is described as a deep, calcareous, clayey silt with a high capacity for storing water available to plants. In small plots, limestone occurs near the surface at a slope break. For the site, a sunny local microclimate is also described.
Grape varieties and wine
For the Schloßberg, Riesling, Spätburgunder and Silvaner are documented. A dry Schloßberg Riesling is described with citrus and yellow-fruit aromas such as apricot, mirabelle plum and quince, as well as pronounced freshness and a salty finish.
Name and vinification
The name of the vineyard site refers to a residential palace built in 1726 in Mettenheim, which no longer exists. For a documented Schloßberg Riesling, fully ripe grapes were picked selectively and kept for 18 hours after arrival at the winery. Half the wine matured in large wooden casks and remained on the lees until June before being filtered.
