Pfalz Flashcards
Pfalz
Shelter, sun and low rainfall provided by the Haardt Mountain range. 80km south of the Rheingau, mild winters and warm summers produce fine reds and fuller bodied whites. Exciting region due to experimentation and quantity of production. Soils predominately sandstone. Main grapes are Spatsburgunder, Muller- Thurgau, Riesling and Kerner. Main quality villages are Bad Durkheim, Forst, Deidesheim and Ruppertsberg.
Pfalz – 23,500ha
o Directly south of Rheinhessen along & west of the Rhine
o Haardt mountains on the west provide similar shelter to Vosges in Alsace -> warm summers, mild winters
o Soils predominantly sandstone; benefited from Flurbereinigung
o Spatburgunder, Muller-Thurgau, Riesling & Kerner dominate.
o Key villages: both Forst and Deidesheim recognised for outstanding Rieslings
o Von Buhl is the largest winery in Deidesheim; founded 1848; member of the VDP; international reputation.
Pfalz
Called the Rheinpfalz until 1992, the Pfalz region is located near Alsace in southern Germany. Like Alsace, the Haardt Mountains in the Pfalz create a rain shadow effect making it the warmest, driest place in the entire country. The range of grape varieties grown here is more varied compared to more northerly growing areas. Pfalz Rieslings, many of them top quality dry wines, are among the most opulent, powerful, and complex whites in Germany. Also worth seeking out are excellent Weissburgunders, Grauburgunders, and Spätburgunders.
Top vineyards: Forster Kirchenstück, Forster Ungeheuer, Forster Jesuitengarten, Deidesheimer Langenmorgen, Deidesheimer Hohenmorgen, Ruppertsberger Reiterpfad, Kallstader Saumagen
Producers: Basserman-Jordan, Bürklin-Wolf, von Buhl, Müller-Catoir
Where is the Mittelhaardt located?
It is the quality core of the Pfalz which is located about one hour from the north-eats of Alsace.
Dr Burklin Wolf?
Founded in 1597
Based in Mittelhaardt, Pfalz
They classify their wines according to site (like Burgundy), rather than sugar weight (as 1971 German wine laws dictate)
Their vineyards are located on the same stretch of land as the Côte d’Or and Alsace
They have two labeling classes GC (highest quality) PC (second tier)
Where is A Christmann located?
Pfalz
Pfalz
- Bordered by Rheinhessen on the Nth and France on the Sth and wst
- Used to be called Rhein- Pfalz
- Sheltered from the est by the Haardt Mountains. This protects it from cold, wet winds and creates a warm microclimate
- It’s most famous Villages are: Wachenheim, Forst, Deidesheim, Ruppertsberg, Kallstein and Ungstein
- However other parts, like Sudliche Weinstrasse in the Sth are increasingly changing their focus from high- yielding, early ripening varieties destined for bulk wines to high quality wines including Riesling, meaning some consider this the most exciting region in Germany
Pfalz: Important Gemeinden and Einzellagen
Mittelhaardt-Deutsche Weinstrasse
Kallstadt: Saumagen
Ungstein
Bad Dürkheim
Wachenheim
Forst: Kirchenstück, Freundstück, Pechstein, Ungeheuer, Jesuitengarten
Deidesheim: Langenmorgen, Hohenmorgen, Kieselberg
Ruppertsberg: Reiterpfad, Gaisböhl (Bürklin-Wolf monopole)
Königsbach: Idig
Südliche-Weinstrasse:
Siebeldingen: Im Sonnenschein
Birkweiler: Kastanienbusch
Schweigen: Kammerberg
What is the Pfalz known as to English speakers?
Palatinate. It was also officially called the Rheinpfalz until 1992.
Where is the warmest wine growing are in Germany?
The Pfalz
What is the soil make up of the Pfalz?
It’s extremely complex. It is made up of Red Sandstone, calcium based limestone, loess, red slate, igneous granite and alluvial gravel
What is the area in France that is South of the Pfalz and shows a natural continuation of the area?
Alsace. In the Pfalz the Vouges are rechristened the Haardt Hills
What are the most important wine Villages of the Mittelhaardt- Deutsche Weinstrasse in the Pfalz?
Kallstadt, Ungstein, Bad Durkheim, Wachenheim, Forst, Deidesheim and Ruppertsberg
What is the warmest and most exceptional vineyard site in the Pfalz?
The Grosse Lage Kirchenstuck
What is the style Riesling that is produced in the Pfalz?
More fuller bodied
