Location and classification
The Rothenberg is a single-vineyard site in Nackenheim in the wine-growing region of Rheinhessen. It belongs to the Roter Hang and is the northernmost of the top sites there. The hillside site, oriented to the south-east, slopes down towards the Rhine between Nackenheim and Nierstein, and is inclined by up to 75 percent.
Soil and mesoclimate
The VDP.GROSSE LAGE comprises 4.00 hectares and is classified for Riesling. The soil consists of coarse-grained red slate, red clay slate and sandstone. The thin layer of topsoil and the solid bedrock close to the surface shape the site. The light in the morning and at midday reaches the vineyard through the opening to the Upper Rhine plain; the nearby Rhine also provides reflected light. For the parcel of Kühling Gillot, porous, weathered slate soils are described.
Parcel by Kühling Gillot
The parcel lies at around 90 to 140 metres above sea level in the steepest section above the Rhine and is locally called “Kapellchen”. It is enclosed by a wall, reaches an incline of up to 120 percent and benefits from morning sun as well as cool autumn winds. The vines were planted in the 1930s and are own-rooted. Owing to the secluded location, the parcel was spared from the land consolidation in the 1960s.
Rothenberg own-rooted GG
The Rothenberg own-rooted GG by Kühling Gillot is produced from strictly selected, hand-picked Riesling grapes. Fermentation takes place spontaneously, after which the dry wine is carefully matured in cask. For the bottling in 2023, 1.5 grams of residual sugar per litre, 7.5 grams of acidity per litre and 12.5 percent alcohol are stated.
