Location on Lake Constance
Konstanz lies between the Überlinger See, the Obersee and the Seerhein. The municipal area has around 34 kilometres of shoreline and belongs to the region Baden.
Sonnenhalde vineyard site
The protected Konstanzer Sonnenhalde is located approximately 500 metres from Lake Constance. The mild climate, partly sunny and partly damp, supports viticulture. The larger site includes the Raitheberg parcel with deep, medium-heavy soils and a balanced proportion of loam and clay.
Cultivation and grape varieties
The Konstanz Spital Foundation cultivates the Sonnenhalde as an independent vineyard site. The vineyards are managed mostly using mechanisation and in accordance with the guidelines for organic viticulture. Documented varieties include Müller-Thurgau, Grauburgunder, Chardonnay and Spätburgunder. Spätburgunder is produced both as Weißherbst and as red wine.
Wine styles and history
The documented wines include dry quality wines made from Müller-Thurgau, Grauburgunder, Chardonnay and Spätburgunder. In addition, there is a dry Grauburgunder as Spätlese with ageing in barriques, as well as a semi-dry Spätburgunder Weißherbst as Kabinett. A donation to the Konstanz hospital has been documented as early as 1271. The Spital Foundation has owned vineyards in Konstanz and Meersburg for more than 700 years and describes its hospital cellar as Germany’s oldest continuously existing foundation cellar.
