Godramstein is a village in western Germany's Pfalz region. While most villages in Pfalz are known only for their Riesling, Godramstein has a relatively diverse portfolio of wine styles. In addition to ripe, fruity Rieslings, the vineyards here also produce round, weighty Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and herby, cherry-scented Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir).
Located immediately north-west of Landau town (of which it is technically a suburb) and immediately east of Siebeldingen, Godramstein lies lower down and further east than Pfalz's other noteworthy wine villages. While most of the region's top vineyards climb the lower slopes of the Haardt Mountains and hug the edge of the Pfälzerwald forest, those in Godramstein lie on the plain, a good mile or two east and around 100m lower. These may not seem like significant differences, but factors such as aspect, water availability and drainage, wind shelter and soil types all change remarkably quickly in the transition between the slopes and the plain.
For many generations, some of Godramstein's finest wines have come from its Schlangenpfiff vineyard. This is located on the village's northern side and enjoys a sunny, south-easterly aspect. It also benefits from low rainfall levels, thanks to the rain shadow cast by the Haardt Mountains above. Its soils are largely calcareous, with a proportion of clay and marl. At present, only one portion of the site is classified as Grosse Lage, namely that owned by the Münzberg winery (Schlangenpfiff Münzberg).
The secret behind Schlangenpfiff's intriguing name (which means 'snake whistle') can be found in cracks in the site's dry-stone walls. These provide the perfect habitat for lizards and snakes, which were once said to bask in the sheltered, sunny location and 'whistle' with contentment.
