Site and Climate
Reiterpfad is a vineyard site in Ruppertsberg in the Pfalz. The site is located on the eastern side of the foot of the Haardt mountains. The surrounding Haardt mountains protect against the prevailing winds and favour a mild local climate. Plots at the forest edge are cooler and more humid than the more exposed areas.
Relief and Soils
The area described as Reiterpfad comprises exposures from north-south via south-east to east-west, lies at an altitude of 120 to 175 metres, and has a slope gradient of 0 to 15 percent. A documented plot of the A. Christmann winery is oriented east-south-east, lies at an altitude of 140 to 155 metres, and has a slope gradient of around 5 percent.
The soils consist of loamy sand with weathered Bunter sandstone. In addition, steinier sand to sandy loam and slope debris from the Bunter sandstone are mentioned at the edge of the mountains. The Reiterpfad terrace was formed from red sandstone scree from the Haardt.
Area and Classification
The municipal description states the area of Reiterpfad as about 87 hectares. The VDP classification separately includes an area of 57 hectares. Reiterpfad is entered in the wine-growing sites register of Rhineland-Palatinate as a named vineyard site and is classified by the VDP as VDP.ERSTE LAGE®.
Grape Varieties and Documented Cultivation
For the classified Reiterpfad area, the VDP lists Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Scheurebe and Spätburgunder. A documented Christmann plot planted in 1992 is read fully selectively by hand in small crates. The documented Christmann Reiterpfad Riesling ferments spontaneously and matures in stainless steel as well as in large wooden casks.
