Location and context
Sonnenberg is a legally registered single-vineyard site in the winegrowing region Pfalz, in the area of Südliche Weinstraße and within the Großlage Herrlich. The vineyard site covers the cadastral areas of Ilbesheim bei Landau and Leinsweiler and lies around the village of Leinsweiler.
The official vineyard site directory 2024 lists 23.1 hectares of vine area in Ilbesheim and 96.5 hectares in Leinsweiler.
Topography and climate
The vineyard site includes the lower slope and the outlying parts of the Föhrlenberg; its southern part lies in the wind shadow of the Hämmelberg. The section classified as VDP.GROSSE LAGE® is south-facing, lies at around 240 to 290 metres above sea level, and has a slope gradient of 15 to 30 percent. In the more comprehensive description of the site, sections are mentioned with a drop of up to 30 percent.
Thanks to its proximity to the Pfälzerwald, Sonnenberg is protected from westerly rainfall and cold weather conditions. The south-facing aspect and the steep sections increase the amount of sunlight.
Soils
The soils consist mostly of shell limestone and marl and have good water-retention capacity. Fossilised shellfish and shark teeth have been found in the vineyard soils.
Classification and grape varieties
A 9.49-hectare portion of Sonnenberg is classified as VDP.GROSSE LAGE®. For this section, Riesling and Spätburgunder are listed as classified grape varieties. The estate Siegrist also documents Riesling, Weißburgunder and Pinot Noir from its parcels at Leinsweiler Sonnenberg.
According to the winery, viticulture has been carried out at Leinsweiler Sonnenberg for more than 1,000 years. A Sonnenberg Riesling from the estate comes from own-rooted vines and matures in Pfälzer oak.
