Location and Classification
Steinberg is an officially listed vineyard site in Michelbach in the Alzenau wine region within the protected wine-growing area Franken. The site is classified without any further classification as a Großlage. The VDP states a classified area of 5.28 hectares for the Michelbacher Steinberg and lists it as VDP.ERSTE LAGE. This designation is a private VDP classification and not a ranking under German wine law.
Climate and Topography
The Alzenau-Michelbach area is described as having particularly mild climatic conditions that support winegrowing. The Michelbacher Steinberg faces south-west and lies at an elevation of 150 to 280 metres. The slope gradient is 20 to 40 percent.
Soil and Grape Varieties
As geological subsoil, bedrock is documented as Urgestein from mica schist, gneiss and quartzite. The classified grape varieties include Riesling, Silvaner, Grauburgunder, Spätburgunder and Schwarzriesling.
Cultivation and Wines
For the Michelbacher Steinberg, Höfler documents dry Riesling, dry Spätburgunder and dry Schwarzriesling. For Schwarzriesling, short canes, early thinning of the foliage, thinning of the bunches, and a yield reduction to seven to ten grapes per vine are described. The Riesling vines are more than 40 years old; the grapes are hand-harvested. For Riesling, there is twelve hours of maceration time, spontaneous fermentation, and maturation on the full lees until January. The Schwarzriesling is vinified classic-style with must fermentation and then matured in 225-litre casks made of Spessart oak.
