Location and classification
Steinkopf is a registered single vineyard in Heppenheim (Bergstraße) within the wine-growing region Hessische Bergstraße in Germany.
Terrain and soils
The terraced steep vineyard has slopes of up to 50 per cent and is oriented to the south and south-west. In the upper part, yellow Buntsandstein is found, whose weathered material contains rock fragments; the lower part consists of red sandstone.
Climate and grape variety
For Heppenheim, during the period 1991–2020 there is recorded annual rainfall of 692 millimetres, of which 429 millimetres fall in the growing season, as well as 1,734 hours of sunshine. The average annual temperature is 11.6 °C, while the average for the growing season is 16.5 °C. In the Steinkopf, Riesling is documented.
Wines and history
Kloster Eberbach produces a Riesling from the Heppenheimer Steinkopf as VDP.ERSTE LAGE®. Historically, Riesling Spätlese, Riesling Auslese and dry Riesling Spätlese are also documented. The wine-growing site was already mentioned in 1517. Part of its landscape includes some very old retaining walls and historical vineyard buildings, including the Weinbergshaus Philippinenruhe and the Steinkopfhäuschen.
