Location and Classification
Sonnenberg is an officially recorded single vineyard in the municipality of Gönnheim in the Mittelhaardt/Deutsche Weinstraße wine-growing region of the Pfalz. The single vineyard forms part of the Großlage Hofstück. In the 2024 wine-growing sites register, for Gönnheim Sonnenberg 92.6 hectares of planted vineyard area are recorded.
Climate and Soils
The municipal area including the Sonnenberg vineyard area is described as mild in climate owing to its location between the Haardt and the Rhine. For a south-east-facing, terraced parcel, around 35 percent slope gradient and roughly 250 metres in elevation are documented. The soils are described as heavy, calcareous loess; for a Sonnenberg parcel, loamier sand is also given.
Vines and Wine Styles
From Gönnheim Sonnenberg vineyard holdings, Riesling and Spätburgunder are documented. Other recorded grape varieties are Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Gewürztraminer and Muskat Ottonel. The documented bottlings include dry Sauvignon Blanc, dry Syrah and dry Spätburgunder, as well as sweet wine styles such as Gewürztraminer Spätlese and Muskat Ottonel.
Cultivation and Vinification
For a south-east-facing Sonnenberg parcel, more than 50-year-old, own-rooted vines are given. For single-vineyard holdings in Gönnheim, which include Sonnenberg, Weingut Eymann documents a planting density of more than 9,000 vines per hectare as well as hand harvesting, spontaneous fermentation, long lees ageing and the omission of oenological additives and fining agents. A Sonnenberg Syrah from Weingut Blaul is matured in barrique.
