Location and classification
The Sonnhalde is a legally designated single vineyard site in the wine-growing region of Breisgau. Its registered municipal or district names are Buchholz, Denzlingen, and Sexau. The vineyards include Buchholz, a district of Waldkirch, as well as areas in Denzlingen and Sexau.
Topography and soils
The Buchholzer Sonnhalde comprises hillside and steep sites, including plots in the Wachtbühl area. It is south-facing and is divided into several vineyard plots. For the Sonnhalde, soils documented as weathered gneiss are recorded; some plots have only a very thin covering of soil, which contributes to heat storage. Steep slopes and low yields are regarded as documented vineyard characteristics.
Climate and cultivation
For the Sonnhalde area in Buchholz and Sexau, somewhat higher rainfall is documented, especially during hot summer periods, as well as clear differences between day and night temperatures. In a vineyard project in the Buchholzer Sonnhalde, care is carried out by members under professional guidance, entirely by hand and according to defined ecological standards. For selected plots, manual shoot reduction, yield reduction during the growing season and selective hand harvesting are also documented.
Grape varieties and wines
From Sonnhalde plots, Weißburgunder (white Burgundy), Grauburgunder (grey Burgundy), Riesling, Blauer Spätburgunder (blue Pinot Noir) and Chardonnay are documented. The range of wines includes dry white wines from single-vineyard sites, dry late-harvest wines, and dry as well as mild or semi-dry Spätburgunder and sparkling wine. A Weißburgunder from the Buchholzer plot Riddele fermented spontaneously, was matured in a 500-litre oak tonneau, and was stored on the lees for six months. A Sexau Sonnhalde Spätburgunder was created through traditional vat fermentation in a stainless-steel tank and then matured for more than twelve months in a 2,400-litre wooden cask. Viticulture in Buchholz has been documented since 1833.
