Location and Topography
The single vineyard of Trotzenberg is located in the Ahr and curves around the settlement of Marienthal in the area of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler. The slopes facing south to south-west reach inclines of up to 55 per cent. Elevation figures, depending on the description, are given as between around 120 and 200 metres above sea level; another source states roughly 180 metres.
Soils and Climate
The soils consist mainly of weathered greywacke as well as slate and loamy material. In the lower areas, slope-deposited loam and loess loam are added. For the Dernau–Marienthal area, a historical long-term average annual temperature of about 9.5 °C and an average annual rainfall of approximately 600 millimetres are given.
Grape Varieties and Area Size
Trotzenberg is officially designated as a single vineyard. The VDP lists a classified area of 3.00 hectares and names Pinot Noir and Frühburgunder. A local description also documents Riesling in the site.
History and Cultivation
The steep terrain previously required manual cultivation. During land consolidation, Trotzenberg was documented as an example of difficult work on a steep slope; according to this account, the first use of gabions for slope stabilisation on the Ahr took place there. In earlier times, there was a small fortified facility on the hill to secure the border of the Electorate of Cologne area against the counts of Saffenburg. Visible remains are no longer present today. Following a change to the area effective as of 1 January 2024, it was ordered that the affected Trotzenberg parcels be assigned to the municipal wine-growing cadastre of the community of Dernau.
