Schloßberg

The Schloßberg is an officially registered single vineyard site in the Bernkastel area on the Moselle and forms part of the Großlage Schwarzlay. The vineyard site is located in the Trarbach district of Traben-Trarbach on the Moselle side of the ridge below the Grevenburg. Its registered area is 8.8 hectares; the official vineyard site code is 410941.

The steep slopes, which are predominantly oriented south-eastwards, fall to the south towards the Schottbachtal and the Moselle. In documented plots, the orientations range from south-west to south-east, with a gradient of around 30 to 60 percent and elevations of roughly 160 to 230 metres. The strong exposure to sunshine is supplemented by the wooded northern ridge, which reduces the influence of cold air from the Hunsrück.

The bedrock consists of Devonian slate, which formed approximately 400 million years ago. The slate splits into thin plates and appears in grey, brown, and in places darker weathered forms. Dry stone walls and relief arches span exposed rock, increase the area available for cultivation that is covered with soil, and support the regulation of slope water. Historic drainage channels and rills running crosswise slow down the flow during heavy rainfall.

The Schloßberg is documented on Prussian vineyard maps from the late 19th century; its esteem as a site is described as going back to the early 17th century. The historic dry stone walls and relief arches are around 150 years old. In the documented plots of Böcking there are approximately 90 percent Riesling and 10 percent Spätburgunder. The Schloßberg Riesling produced there is described as fine-fruited, mineral and filigree, and is produced dry to off-dry depending on the wine. For a Schloßberg Riesling Kabinett off-dry, the 2022 vintage is documented.