Location and classification
The Vendersheim Sonnenberg lies within the cadastral district of Vendersheim in Rheinhessen. It is classified as a single vineyard site in the area of Bingen and within the Großlage Kurfürstenstück.
Topography and soils
The wine-growing site extends up to an altitude of 225 metres and is oriented to the south. The Vendersheim wine-growing region receives more than 1,500 hours of sunshine per year, which the municipality attributes to the elevated location.
Documented are calcareous loams and sands from tertiary marine deposits, which are classified as marl (Mergel) respectively pararendzina. In addition, calcareous rendzina occurs, which is linked to a calcareous algae reef from tertiary marine deposits. The soils are shallow to medium-depth, very calcareous, stony, and sandy-loamy.
Grape varieties and wine styles
Documented wines from the Vendersheimer Sonnenberg include Riesling, Huxelrebe, Gewürztraminer, Grauburgunder, Silvaner, Ortega and Spätburgunder, or Pinot noir. In addition, Dornfelder and Portugieser are recorded as single-vineyard wines.
Among others, dry Riesling and dry Spätburgunder are represented, sweet Huxelrebe as Spätlese and Beerenauslese, Gewürztraminer as Auslese, Silvaner as Eiswein, and Ortega as Trockenbeerenauslese.
Maturation and harvest
A documented Spätburgunder from the Vendersheimer Sonnenberg was matured for two years in Barrique, including in an old Barrique. For this wine, a selective hand harvest with a yield of 30 hl/ha is given. In a Huxelrebe Beerenauslese, individual berries were selected by hand and only the ripest berries were used.
