Location and classification
Weilberg is a vineyard site in the Ungsteiner cadastral area of the city of Bad Dürkheim in the wine-growing region of Pfalz. The registered single vineyard bears the wine-growing code 820603 and lies beneath the Großlage Honigsäckel in the Mittelhaardt/Deutsche Weinstraße area. The vineyard is located on the eastern edge of the Palatinate Forest near the Roman Villa Weilberg.
Climate and soils
The site is considered climatically favourable. The eastern area is sunny and dry, while the western part receives less sun and is wetter. The south- to south-easterly facing vineyard lies at around 140 to 170 metres above sea level and has a slope gradient of approximately 5 to 15 per cent.
The soils consist mainly of clayey loam, Terra Rossa, limestone, gravel and loess. Terra Rossa is an iron-oxide red-coloured, clayey soil with limestone and a high proportion of fine earth. It formed from red calcareous loam and limestone with loess over tertiary limestone or Pleistocene limestone rubble.
Vines and wines
The registered site comprises 32.8 hectares of planted vineyard area, with the classified VDP area covering 31 hectares. According to the VDP site profile, Riesling, Weißer Burgunder and Spätburgunder are represented; overall, Weilberg is planted predominantly with Riesling. The classified area is designated as VDP.GROSSE LAGE® WEILBERG.
For the Terra Rossa area, piquant, fruity and full-bodied Rieslings are described. The wines from the further site are associated with high mineral content and ripe, distinctive acidity.
Historical viticulture
A Roman winery was established at Weilberg around 2,000 years ago. Finds such as grape pips, a vine knife, a sickle and a vineyard spade document early viticulture. The estate had three shallow press basins: the grapes were trodden in the outer basins, the juice flowed into a deeper middle basin and was then transferred into barrels.
