Location and landscape
The Royal Vineyard as a wine-law single-vineyard site is located in Dresden-Pillnitz in the Saxon winegrowing region. It lies above Schloss Pillnitz on the slopes of the Elbe valley and covers 21 hectares. The steep site oriented towards south-southwest is at around 125 to 170 metres above sea level and has a slope gradient of 40 to 45 percent. Terraces and dry-stone walls shape the vineyard.
Soil and climate
The slopes are favoured by the climatically protected location in the Elbe valley. Longer periods of sunshine help warm up the dark granitic subsoil. This comprises weathered Lausitz biotite granodiorite with quartz, potash feldspar, biotite and muscovite. The soil profile describes a regosol of mixed sand over deep, gravel-bearing periglacial sand from meltwater depositions.
Grape varieties and classification
Within the 4.53-hectare sub-plot Königlicher Weinberg in Pillnitz documented by the VDP, Riesling, Grauburgunder and Weißburgunder are listed as classified grape varieties. Operators on site also document Riesling, Traminer and Weißburgunder from their parcels. The single-vineyard site is assigned to the Großlage Elbtal in the area of Meissen and is recorded as a Saxon single-vineyard. The VDP sub-plot is classified as VDP.GROSSE LAGE.
Historical context
For viticulture in Pillnitz, a documented history of more than 600 years is recorded. The historical Royal Vineyard in Wachwitz, also located on the Dresden Elbe slopes, comprises a royal villa, a neo-Gothic vineyard chapel, a press house, gardeners’ houses and further estate buildings. Friedrich August II. began there in 1824 with the acquisition of vineyard plots.
