Location and landscape
Waterless is a district of Alzenau in the Aschaffenburg district in Bavaria. The place lies to the south of Alzenau on the west slope of the Hahnenkamm at an altitude of around 150 metres. Alzenau, and thus also Waterless, are located at the transition between the foothills of the Spessart and the Main floodplain near the Hessian border, in Franconia.
Viticulture and soils
The local climate is considered particularly mild and suitable for viticulture. The vineyards are on hillside locations and are described as steep vineyards. Their soils are linked with weathered crystalline rock such as gneiss, granite, mica schist and quartzite; quartz-containing soils influence the vines.
Vineyard sites and history
The documented vineyard sites of Waterless are Schloßberg and Luhmännchen. Viticulture has been documented since 1282. Towards the end of the 19th century, as a result of vine diseases and pests, it came to a complete standstill. In the 1950s, smaller plots were replanted; afterwards, local farmers gradually resumed cultivation. The vineyards are privately owned and are managed privately.
Varieties and classification
For the Alzenau wine-growing areas including Waterless, the following are mentioned among others for the white varieties: Müller-Thurgau, Riesling, Bacchus, Kerner and Burgunder varieties; for the red varieties: Spätburgunder, Schwarzriesling and Domina. A documented example from the Waterless Schloßberg is a dry Riesling Auslese. The vineyard register assigns Schloßberg and Luhmännchen to the protected wine-growing region of Franconia, Alzenau wine region; both are entered as not belonging to any Großlage.
