Location and Landscape
Königstuhl is a single vineyard in the Nierstein area of Rheinhessen. It belongs to the collective vineyard Gutes Domtal and is located in the municipality of Lörzweiler. The approximately 36-hectare site lies at an altitude of 130 to 166 metres and faces west and south-west.
Soil
Königstuhl is described as marl and Pelosol formed from calcium-rich, clay-containing deposits of the Tertiary sea. The deep soil is calcareous and rich in nutrients and contains a high proportion of swelling clays. As a result, water and air permeability are limited, while root penetration is made more difficult.
Climate and Wine Style
The wine-growing region of Rheinhessen has, at the site, an average annual temperature of 9.9 °C and 14.6 °C during the growing season. Around 500 millimetres of rainfall fall each year; during the growing season, roughly 650,000 Wh/m² of direct solar radiation is reached. With marl-Pelosol, full-bodied, dense and substantial wines with moderate acidity, a creamy texture and ripe impressions of mango, apricot and honeydew melon are produced.
Name and Legal Status
The vineyard name has been documented since 1490 as being associated with the Königstuhl. The local history also mentions the field name Auf dem Königsstuhl in 1525 and refers to a royal seat already mentioned in 1303. A local tradition connects the place with Konrad II’s election as German king in September 1024; the local history derives this from historical references and the proximity to Mainz. Königstuhl is established as a legally recognised single-vineyard name within the protected designation of origin Rheinhessen.
