Location and Climate
Quedlinburg lies on the northern edge of the Harz in Saxony-Anhalt. The town is located in the rain shadow of the Harz, which historically has been associated with comparatively low rainfall and favourable conditions for agriculture.
Königstein Vineyard Site
The vineyard site Königstein is located near Westerhausen on a south-facing slope of the Königstein, on the southern flank of the Quedlinburg saddle. The Königstein rises to about 190 metres above sea level and has a distinctive rocky ridge with the Kamelfelsen. Its rock consists of hardened sandstone from the Lower Cretaceous, which has become partly quartzite-like through silicification and is particularly resistant.
The vineyard is stony and at the same time comparatively loamy; the soil can store water. The slope position improves the amount of sunlight, while the surrounding ridges provide protection from cold northwesterly winds.
History and Cultivation
Vine growing in the area of the Quedlinburg women’s collegiate foundation is documented as early as the 11th century. In the 16th century it was expanded, but in the 17th century it declined again as a result of the Thirty Years’ War and unfavourable climatic conditions. On the Königstein, modern viticulture began in 1988 at first as an experiment; in 1989, the first 1,000 square metres of an old orchard were planted on the southern terrace of the Kamelfelsen as a hillside vineyard. The first bottling from this site is documented for 1991.
Classification and Grape Varieties
Westerhäuser Königstein is officially assigned to the wine-growing region Saale-Unstrut, the area of the Mansfelder Seen, and the section not covered by a großlage. The vineyard register as of 31 December 2024 lists for the individual site 2.5935 hectares of planted vineyard area with the cadastral references Quedlinburg and Westerhausen. For quality wine from specified growing areas of Saale-Unstrut, a minimum must weight of 50 degrees Oechsle applies; in addition, an official testing number and grapes from the designated growing area are required. For the Königstein and related Quedlinburg vineyard sites, among others Traminer, Riesling, Weißburgunder, Müller-Thurgau, Spätburgunder, Dornfelder and Cabernet Mitos are named.
