Location on the German Wine Route
Leinsweiler is a municipality in the district of Southern Wine Route (Landkreis Südliche Weinstraße) in Rhineland-Palatinate and is located in the wine-growing region Pfalz. On the German Wine Route, the town is situated in the South Palatinate between Bad Bergzabern, Landau and Annweiler am Trifels.
Sonnenberg vineyard site
The vineyard site Sonnenberg lies on the lower slope of the Föhrlenberg, which belongs to the Palatinate Forest. It is oriented to the south, is at an elevation of about 240 to 290 metres, and has a slope gradient of 15 to 30 per cent.
Soils and grape varieties
The western slope of the Föhrlenberg protects the Sonnenberg from rain as well as from cold weather conditions, while the southern orientation increases the amount of sunshine. The soils consist mainly of shell limestone and marl and have a good capacity for storing water. The VDP classifies the 9.49-hectare site as VDP.GROSSE LAGE®. Riesling and Spätburgunder are listed for it.
History
The Evangelical Martins Church traces its origins back to the 7th or 8th century and was rebuilt in the 13th century as a hall church with a late Gothic chancel, nave and tower. Winegrowing in Leinsweiler has been documented since the 13th century; the Kirchholz vineyard was mentioned in 1238.
