Location and designation
The Hackenheimer Sonnenberg is located in the cadastral area and municipality of Hackenheim in the Bingen area of Rheinhessen. The single-vineyard designation is Sonnenberg, and the grand cru designation is Rheingrafenstein. The vineyard area covers 72 hectares. The name refers to the sun-facing, southern orientation of the site.
Relief and soils
The wine site is at an altitude of about 175 to 201 metres and is oriented east-southeast. The soil, classified as Rigosol, consists of gravel, sand and loam. This is glacial outwash deposits from the Ice Age, with moderately deep, stony sand-loam.
Water balance and grape varieties
The soil is well drained and aerated, and warms up well, but it stores only a limited amount of water available to plants. In dry years, this can lead to drought stress. The site is described as suitable for Pinot varieties and red grape varieties. In the plots of the BioWeingut Gänz, Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder, Spätburgunder and Regent are grown.
Wine character
The wines are generally described as being more strongly oriented towards red wine. They show herbal-spiced aromas, a firm palate, freshness in interplay with texture, juiciness and density, as well as potential for ageing. From the plots of the BioWeingut Gänz come spicy, densely aromatic wines with a long finish and a balance between freshness and palate texture.
