Site and classification
Silberberg is an officially registered single vineyard in the Ahr growing region and lies in the Walporzheim/Ahrtal area of the Großlage Klosterberg. The site belongs to the cadastral district of Ahrweiler in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler and carries the official site number 110105. The VDP lists Silberberg, Ahrweiler, as VDP.GROSSE LAGE® with a classified area of 10.00 hectares.
Topography and soils
Silberberg is oriented to the south to the south-west and has steep slopes with a gradient of around 30 to 60 per cent. The vineyards are situated at elevations of approximately 110 to 180 metres above sea level. The orientation provides for a long duration of sunshine.
In the site, greywacke, slate and loess occur. In addition, sandy loam and loess-containing slope deposits are described.
Vineyard areas and wine style
The officially recorded planted vineyard area is 14.0 hectares. Spätburgunder is the predominant documented grape variety; for the VDP-classified area, Spätburgunder and Frühburgunder are listed. A local description also mentions around eleven hectares of Spätburgunder, as well as around one hectare each of Portugieser and Dornfelder.
Wines from the greywacke soils and weathered slate are described as fine-fruited. Based on loess and hillside-loam areas, more full-bodied wines are produced.
Historical reference
Silberberg lies above an excavated Roman villa. Smelting furnaces found at the foot of the site are interpreted as indications of historic silver ore extraction and are considered a possible explanation for the name of the vineyard.
