Pechstein Riesling Grosses Gewächs

Variety: Riesling
Region: Pfalz
Vineyard: Forster Pechstein
Soil Type: Loamy sand, basalt, clay
Fermentation & Élevage: Spontaneous fermentation in 500L barrels, left on the gross lees for 24 months

Forster Pechstein:
The name of the Pechstein  stems from the black basalt rubble that is found here together with weathered red sandstone, sandy loam and friable clay. The extinct volcano, Pechsteinkopf, which is seen above the forest, distributed large quantities of volcanic rock over the area in ancient times. For this reason, the subsoil of the Pechstein also contains several basalt veins. The basalt rubble that contributes to easy warming of this site actually does not stem from the site’s subsoil, but rather from an old stone quarry just a couple hundred meters away. As was common in the 19th century, the basalt from the quarry was distributed in the vineyard and ploughed into the soil to improve it. The 17.1 hectare Pechstein is located at 120 to 150 meters a.s.l. and has a gentle 6 to 10 % slope gradient. The clay and loam in the Pechstein contribute to the excellent water storage capacity of the soil.