Location and classification
Steinkaul is an officially registered single vineyard within the urban area of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler in the Ahrweiler district area. It lies in the Walporzheim/Ahrtal area and belongs to the Großlage Klosterberg in the Ahr.
Structure and soils
The winegrowing site, which is also documented as Bachemer Steinkaul, consists of two areas: a west-facing section along the L84 towards Ramersbach and an east-facing section in the Bachemer valley. A hollow and orchards separate the two parts. The site is at around 100 to 160 metres above sea level; about 75 percent are steep and 25 percent are sloping. The expositions range from southeast to west.
The soils are medium to heavy loess loams with terrace gravel, slope clay and, locally, greywacke.
Vineyard area and grape varieties
The 2024 wine sites directory records 9.8 hectares of planted area for Steinkaul. A description of the wine site states that of this about 7 hectares are Pinot Noir, 1 hectare Earlyburgunder and 1 hectare Portugieser. Bachem is also associated with a pronounced Earlyburgunder tradition; Steinkaul counts among the documented Earlyburgunder holdings there.
History and winegrowing
The historical field name Steinkaul is evidenced in a source from the year 1277. For the steep area, an earlier terracing for winegrowing is considered likely. Depending on the soil, the wines from the site are described as either fruity or, on loamy soils, as full-bodied. According to Pollig & Schmidt, the vineyards, which include plots in Steinkaul, are naturally kept under vegetation, farmed without herbicides and, where possible, treated without synthetic plant protection products. Yields are limited, depending on the vintage, to around 35 to 50 hectolitres per hectare.
