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Hessische Bergstraße · Sub-regions

Alsbach

Northernmost Bergstraße village with Schloss Alsbach and small quality-oriented family estates.

1Wineries

Grape Varieties

Riesling, Spätburgunder

Most Famous Site

Alsbacher Schöntal

Vineyard Area

25 ha

Harvest

September – October

WarmthSunDrynessMineralityBodyFreshness

TERROIR PROFILE · Hessische Bergstraße

Alsbach Northernmost Bergstraße village with castle

Alsbach — small, quality-focused wine culture at Schloss Alsbach.

☀ Warm · Dry · Sunny⛰ Slope: moderateRieslingSpätburgunder
What is terroir? →

SOILS

Loessround, fruity, full

Loess stores water and nutrients. Wines tend to be rounder, juicier and fuller.

Graniteelegant, lightly spicy

Weathered granite produces elegant, slender wines with fine, lightly spicy profile.

Loambody-rich, velvety

Loamy soils give wines volume and a soft, velvety mouthfeel.

CLIMATE · Warm · Dry · Sunny

Mild and sunny at the northern end of the Hessische Bergstraße. The Odenwald shields from the east, the Rhine plain provides warmth; budbreak is early and rainfall low.

TOPOGRAPHY · moderate

Gentle to moderately steep slopes above Alsbach-Hähnlein, inclined west to southwest; Alsbach Castle stands on the hillside. Vines grow on the western edge of the Odenwald foreland.

WHAT IT MEANS IN THE GLASS

fresh-elegantfamily-estate characterdrycastle-romantic

Typical Flavours of the Region

Region aroma cloud

ApplePeachCitrusApricotJasmineSlatePetrol (with age)CherryRaspberryStrawberryVioletForest floorMushroomLeather (with age)
→ Aroma wheel and variety profiles

Hessische Bergstraße overview

This sub-region is part of Hessische Bergstraße. The map shows all 5 sub-regions — Alsbach is highlighted.

Overview

Wineries1
Detailed profiles1

Typical Varieties

Riesling
Spätburgunder

Terroir & Climate

Wine Character

Alsbach is part of the municipality of Alsbach-Hähnlein in the Darmstadt-Dieburg district and lies directly at the first slopes of the Odenwald, while Hähnlein lies in the flat Ried. The village adjoins Zwingenberg to the north. Above the village stand the ruins of Alsbach castle.

The Alsbacher Schöntal site begins directly at the border with Zwingenberg to the north and extends from the old B 3 road to the forest edge below the castle. The slopes face south and west, and the Odenwald shelters against wind. The soils consist of loess loam over weathered granite, as along the rest of the Bergstraße.

The Hessische Bergstraße, at about 440 hectares, is one of the smallest German wine regions, and Riesling dominates. In Alsbach, Riesling and Spätburgunder are the main varieties. Weingut Kühnert farms 2.5 hectares in the Schöntal, and Weingut Simon-Bürkle from Zwingenberg also holds plots there.

Soil Type

Loess loam, weathered granite

Climate

Mediterranean-mild; ~1,700 sunshine hours

Top profiles

1 detailed profiles — all filterable in the list below

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Events in Hessische Bergstraße

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Alsbach and what is the Schöntal site?

Alsbach lies on the first slopes of the Odenwald and adjoins Zwingenberg to the north. The Alsbacher Schöntal site begins at the border with Zwingenberg and runs from the old B 3 to the forest edge below the castle.

What soils and climate does Alsbach have?

The slopes face south and west, and the Odenwald shelters from wind. The soils consist of loess loam over weathered granite, as along the rest of the Bergstraße.

Which estates farm the Schöntal in Alsbach?

Weingut Kühnert farms 2.5 hectares in the Schöntal, and Weingut Simon-Bürkle from Zwingenberg also has plots there. Riesling and Spätburgunder are the defining varieties in Alsbach.

Which grape varieties define Alsbach?

The key grape varieties in Alsbach are Riesling and Spätburgunder. The best-known vineyard is Alsbacher Schöntal.

When is the best time to visit Alsbach for wine?

The harvest in Alsbach takes place September – October – when vineyards and cellars are busiest. May to July suits tastings without harvest bustle; many estates open their tasting rooms off-season by appointment.

How many wineries are there in Alsbach?

Cellarmap lists 1 wineries in Alsbach across roughly 25 hectares of vines. Every profile shows location, contact, grape varieties and, where available, vineyards, classification and visitor information.

All wineries in Alsbach, A to Z

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