AT THE FOOT OF THE HESSISCHE BERG- STRASSE, the loess contains a large proportion of sand. This sandy loess also contains a lot of silt. Strong ice age winds transported fine sand to the summits of the Bergstrasse. The sandy loess mostly consists of quartz grains and calcareous fragments with other minerals only playing a minor role.
      The hortic anthrosol developed from the sandy loess is a „light“ version of a normal loess soil. This available soil water capacity is slightly lower but still sufficient to provide adequate amounts of water. The friable substrate allows roots to penetrate to great depths, enabling plants to tap into additional water reservoirs. Water stress is very rare since the Bergstrasse receives more rain than the Rheingau. However, water supply can be restricted during the ripening time in autumn. The fine sand fraction ensures that the soil is well aerated and quick to warm. The large pores between the sand grains allow air to circulate so that the soil warms early in spring giving the grapevines a head start. The nutrient and mineral content of the sandy loess is slightly lower than that of loess soils.