VINEYARD SOILS FORMED ON SANDSTONE are in many ways extreme and demanding substrates for vines. Sandstone weathers into a coarse nutrient-poor substrate. On steep slopes these soils are full of stones and blocks as the fine material is gradually removed downhill.
     The brownish black humus produced by woodlice, earthworms and other soil dwelling animals results in a friable topsoil. The coarse-grained drift consists of sand and some silt derived from the weathering of loess. This fine fraction improves the soil water capacity, because silt can store more water. The density of the soil and the stone fraction increases with depth and the sand is coarser.
     Sandy soils, especially on sandstone drifts are dry locations – water is often a rare commodity. Coarse sand grains are only capable of storing small amounts of water; rainwater percolates rapidly through the soil. The limited water reserves are quickly depleted in dry periods. The vine adjusts its water requirements according to the supply. Consequently, vine metabolism is restricted on sandstone soils during dry periods. In order to tap into deeper water reserves some roots grow deep into the subsoil. The nutrient supply is also restricted. The mineral nutrient content of sandstone is very low and the resulting soils are acid. The amount of minerals released by sandstone weathering processes is very low. Only the breakdown of feldspars and micas mixed into the topsoil with the loess can release significant amounts of minerals.
     However, these sandstone soils are very well aerated and have excellent thermal properties. At the first sign of the sun, the small amount of water evaporates from the soil and warm air rapidly begins to circulate in the profile. The soil surface is quick to warm and the heat is rapidly given off to the roots and the leaves.
     Sandstone soils are a regional feature of the terroir Hessen. The red sandstone covers large parts of the eastern Odenwald. These also once covered the crystalline rocks of the Bergstrasse. However, only a few sandstone relicts remain in this region. One small outcrop is preserved near Heppenheim (location Maiberg and Steinkopf). The Bunter Sandstone was deposited between 251 and 245 million years ago in a semi-arid climate. The debris was deposited in shallow