Old Vines in Mica Schist
The Seeberg Erste Lage lies directly across from the Heiligenstein. In both vineyard sites there is, almost without exception, Riesling. There may be only about one kilometer between their terraces, yet the two are as far apart in geological and sensory terms than as if they were in different hemispheres.
The vines on the Seeberg are south-facing. There is no lack of light and sun here, yet the harvest is usually late in the season. This is a result of the continuously blowing north wind, which provides a cooling counterpoint in the vineyards and keeps the acidity and tension high in the grapes.
The Soil
The desert sandstone that dominates the Heiligenstein today is no longer found in the Seeberg; instead, there is garnet mica schist, some of which is permeated by amphibole-rich veins. The subsoil is crumbly and porous, allowing the vines to root deeply and obtain their nutrients and minerals from the depths of the hill.
“The subsoil is crumbly and porous, allowing the vines to root deeply and obtain their nutrients and minerals from the depths of the hill.„
