Mergelland
Styles
Principal grape varieties
Riesling B (Riesling Weiss)Pinot Noir NPinot Gris GPinot Blanc BMüller-Thurgau B (Mueller Thurgau Weiss)Gewürztraminer Rs (Gewuerztraminer)Dornfelder NChardonnay BAuxerrois B
Terroir
Natural factors
- Soil: topsoil of löss (silt fraction 50–60%, sand fraction 20–30%, clay fraction <20%) overlying mergel and gravel.
- Calcium-rich löss and mergel preserve crisp acidity and promote fruity aromas; areas with klei as topsoil are excluded.
- Löss warms rapidly and cools quickly; the inland location amplifies diurnal temperature variation, which supports fruit development.
- An average potential precipitation deficit of 100 mm during the growing season, combined with slope drainage, produces an optimal mild water deficit.
Human factors
- Viticulture in Mergelland dates back to 968; after an interruption during the French period, commercial cultivation resumed from 1970 onwards.
- Classic varieties dominate: Pinot Noir/Gris/Blanc, Chardonnay, Auxerrois (northern France) and Riesling, Rivaner, Gewürztraminer, Dornfelder (Germany).
Product characteristics
- Mergelland wines combine fruitiness, freshness, and minerality, underpinned by a calcium-rich löss soil that preserves acidity.
- Cool nights slow the breakdown of malic acid; this acidity lends freshness and also directs ester formation during fermentation.
Terroir / wine link
- Calcium-rich löss/mergel soil preserves crisp acidity and creates a tingling sensation; research ranks this combination highest for fruitiness.
Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.
Sources
- Specification (EUR-Lex, single document)
- eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-NL-02114
- Official trade body site — BOB Mergelland