Pfalz

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The average elevation of the vineyard area in the Pfalz is approximately 170 metres above sea level, with the steepest slopes reaching up to 60% gradient at the Haardtrand escarpment.
• A large proportion of the vines grow on loess or loess-loam, followed by Quaternary fluvial loams, sands and gravels, and in third place Tertiary limestones and marls.
• On loess and loess-loam, Parabraunerden, Tschernoseme or Pararendzinen soils have developed, while Tertiary sediments give rise to Ferrallite, Fersiallite and Terrae calcis as notable occurrences.
• The mean annual temperature is approximately 10 °C, and the mean temperature during the growing season is 14.7 °C, with values increasing from west to east.
• Annual rainfall amounts to approximately 655 mm, of which around 60% (390 mm) falls within the growing season, with the highest values in the south-west and the lowest in the north-east of the region.
• During the growing season, the vines receive on average approximately 665,000 Wh/m² of direct solar radiation.

• For grapes destined for Prädikatsweine, growers may achieve a more concentrated composition of grape components by leaf removal in the bunch zone or by cluster thinning.
• Depending on the state of vegetation and the site, grapes from vineyards selected for sparkling-wine base wines must be harvested earlier in order to preserve the pronounced acidity structure characteristic of Sekt b.A. or Winzersekt.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in Germany

Sources

• Specification (EUR-Lex, single document)
• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-DE-A1272
• Official trade body site — Pfalzwein e.V.