Location and districts
Schweigen-Rechtenbach is located in the southern Pfalz directly on the French border, near Wissembourg in Alsace. The municipality consists of the districts of Schweigen and Rechtenbach, which were merged in 1969 to form the municipality of Schweigen-Rechtenbach.
Vine cultivation and vineyard sites
Schweigen-Rechtenbach is a wine-growing municipality in the wine-growing region of Pfalz. The vineyard sites are assigned to the Großlage Guttenberg and include the Herrenwingert, the Pfarrwingert and the Sonnenberg. The Herrenwingert comprises 21.2 hectares in the district of Rechtenbach, while the Pfarrwingert comprises 7.3 hectares.
Sonnenberg and soils
The Sonnenberg extends within the municipality over 88.6 hectares in Rechtenbach and 40.2 hectares in Schweigen; the registered site also extends into Oberotterbach and Schweighofen. Different row orientations and slope gradients shape the vineyards, which in places extend across the French border. Documented are red sands, Buntsandstein, gravel, loess, loam, and calcareous marl with varying proportions of loam and clay.
Grape varieties and wine tradition
In the local vineyards, among others, Riesling, Weißburgunder (white Burgundy), Grauburgunder (grey Burgundy), Spätburgunder (late-burgundy), Scheurebe and Gewürztraminer are planted. Further documented plantings are Chardonnay, Silvaner, Morio-Muskat and Dornfelder. Local vinification also includes sparkling wine and ripening in barrique, in wooden casks or in a vaulted cellar. The Deutsche Weinstraße (German Wine Route) was opened in 1935; the Deutsche Weintor (German Wine Gate) in Schweigen was created in 1936 as its southern gate. At the Schweigener Sonnenberg, the first German wine education trail was established and was redesigned and reopened in 2021.
