Location and soils
The Friedrich Becker winery is located in Schweigen-Rechtenbach in the Palatinate, on the German-French border, where the Palatinate borders Alsace. The vineyards are situated at the edge of the Palatine Forest and include gently rising sites as well as exposed hilltops. The soils consist of a mixture of limestone, marl and clay; Buntsandstein is also present. The site Kammerberg has limestone with a fine clayey-tilled top layer.
Viticulture and grape varieties
Around 70 percent of the vineyards are on the French side of the border. Work in the vineyard and in the cellar follows, according to the winery, sustainable principles; the vineyards include old vines that are continuously tended by hand. The focus is on Pinot varieties such as Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. The range is complemented by Riesling, Muscateller, Silvaner and Gewürztraminer.
Wines and maturation
The winery focuses on characterful Pinot wines that express the provenance of the Schweigen terroir. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from limestone layers are described as structured, complex wines with ageing potential. Pinot Noir ferments openly in wooden fermenting tanks with daily pigeage and then matures in Barriques made from French oak, partly for up to 20 months.
Family history
From a mixed farming business with livestock rearing, arable farming and viticulture, there emerged a family winery completely geared towards winegrowing. The first bottles were filled in 1973. Today the winery sees itself as a family business in its seventh generation and is a member of the Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates.
