Location and classification
The Sonnenberg is an officially designated single vineyard in the cadastral area of the municipality of Gundheim in Germany. It belongs to the Großlage Bergkloster and the Wonnegau area in Rheinhessen.
The vineyard plots lie at around 145 to 170 metres above sea level and face east to south-east. The name Sonnenberg refers to the sunny south side of the site.
Soils and wine character
Documented are loess over pararendzina as well as loess over black earth (Schwarzerde). The loess-pararendzina soil is calcareous, deep-rooting and consists of silty clay. It has a high available water-holding capacity, good workability for root penetration and high growth potential. The loess-black earth soil is rich in humus, deeply rooted and very well suited to root penetration.
With loess over pararendzina, wines with an emphasis on fruit are associated with notes of apple, peach, pear and citrus, moderate body and mild acidity. Loess over black earth stands for fruit-forward, fuller wines with citrus, apple, pear and peach notes, a light seasoning and rounded acidity.
Area and grape variety
In the wine site directory of Rhineland-Palatinate 2024, the Sonnenberg is listed under wine site number 730110 with 91.8 hectares of vines planted. Riesling is documented for a wine bearing the designation Gundheimer Sonnenberg from the Boxheimerhof winery.
Vinification and special feature
The documented Gundheimer Sonnenberg Riesling from the Boxheimerhof winery was produced from hand-harvested grapes. Fermentation took place at 25 percent spontaneous and 75 percent as must fermentation; afterwards, the wine matured for at least eight months in a large, old oak cask.
In 2014, a fieldstone Trullo called Auf dem Berg was erected in the Sonnenberg. In 2024, it received an award from the Rheinhessen wine brotherhood.
