Bereich Südliche Weinstraße
Pfalz
The southern half of the Pfalz, stretching from Neustadt to the French border at Schweigen. Warmer and more geologically varied than the Mittelhaardt; home to Birkweiler Kastanienbusch, Siebeldinger Im Sonnenschein and the Kalmit. Riesling shares the spotlight with top-tier Spätburgunder and Weißburgunder.
The wines of Bereich Südliche Weinstraße are made primarily from Pinot Noir, Riesling, Gewürztraminer and other Pfalz varieties.
Vineyard Map
Climate
The warmest wine-growing zone in Germany, with mean growing-season temperatures 1–2°C above the Mittelhaardt. Continental climate moderated by the Pfälzer Wald rain shadow and slight maritime influence from the French border. Long sunshine hours; Mediterranean-style warmth ripens Spätburgunder to world-class levels.
Terroir
The most varied soils in Germany: Buntsandstein (red sandstone) on the Haardt foothills, Rotliegendes (red Permian mudstone) at Birkweiler Kastanienbusch, Muschelkalk (shell limestone) on the plain, loess caps, and pockets of basalt, clay, schist and gypsum. Producers speak of individual crus having three or four parent rocks inside a single vineyard.
What it tastes like
The style it shares with Südliche Weinstraße.
Body
Medium
Acidity
Bright
Tannin
Firm
Oak
Some oak
Ripeness
Ripe
Concentration
Medium
Reds
Medium-bodied and bright with firm tannin and some oak; red cherry and raspberry over forest floor, violet and clove, polished and chalky, with the structure to age.
red fruit · earthy · spicy · floral · chalky
Body
Medium
Acidity
Bright
Oak
No oak
Ripeness
Rich
Concentration
Medium
Whites
Dry, medium-bodied and bright; lemon, yellow peach and pear with white flowers and herbs, ripe at the core but stony and taut on the finish, strict next to the Mittelhaardt.
citrus · stone fruit · apple and pear · herbal · stony
Similar styles
Lands in the same glass.
Grapes of Pfalz
Frequently Asked Questions
What grapes grow in Bereich Südliche Weinstraße?▼
What soils are found in Bereich Südliche Weinstraße?▼
Imagery: Sentinel-2 cloudless by EOX IT Services GmbH (CC BY 4.0)