Location and Geology
The Niedermenniger Sonnenberg is located in Niedermennig near Konz in the Mosel. A documented plot is orientated to the south and west. The soil consists of red slate; a Pinot Noir plot shows, in places, a high proportion of fine earth.
Vines and Yields
For the Niedermenniger Sonnenberg, Riesling and Pinot Noir are documented. An old Riesling plot was planted in 1962 and 1964; for the 2019 Riesling vintage, lower vigour and a yield of 30 hectolitres per hectare are stated. A Pinot Noir plot was established in 2011 and produced, in 2022 as well, 30 hectolitres per hectare.
Wine Styles and Appellation
Documented Rieslings are produced as feinherb (off-dry), Kabinett and Spätlese. The documented Pinot Noir is dry. The Niedermenniger Sonnenberg is listed in the official register of wine-growing sites for the Konz area; wines from the named site are documented as site wines (Lagenwein), including a Riesling Kabinett.
Vinification
The documented 2019 Riesling was pressed using whole grapes, fermented spontaneously until the beginning of January, aged on full lees, and bottled on 4 March 2020. For the 2022 Pinot Noir, 50 percent whole grapes were used; the spontaneous fermentation lasted 35 days, after which the wine matured in French oak barrels aged five to eight years.
