Location and Climate
Königsbach is a wine village and an administrative district of Neustadt an der Weinstraße in the cultivation area Pfalz. The town lies north of Neustadt between the wooded hills of the Haardt and the Upper Rhine Plain; the Zeiselbach runs through the village. On average, around 500 millimetres of precipitation fall each year, while more than 1,800 hours of sunshine are recorded. Weinbiet and Stabenberg contribute to the dry, mild local climate.
Vineyard Sites and Soils
The Idig is oriented to the south, lies at an altitude of 145 to 180 metres and has a slope gradient of 20 per cent. The site is located on a limestone massif; its topsoil consists of Terra fusca made up of limestone and loam with Buntsandstein rubble. The VDP profile also lists limestone and basalt as well as calcareous marl as soils. The Haardt and Rolandsberg protect against cold westerly winds, while descending air from the Stabenberg keeps the vineyard area dry.
The Ölberg is oriented to the south-east, lies at an altitude of 130 to 190 metres and has slope gradients of 3 to 15 per cent. The soils stated are sandy loam, loamy sand and calcareous marl.
Classification and Grape Varieties
The Idig area classified by the VDP comprises 6.53 hectares, that of the Ölberg 25.64 hectares. The Idig is classified as VDP.GROSSE LAGE, the Königsbacher Ölberg as VDP.ERSTE LAGE. For both sites, Riesling and Spätburgunder are grown. One Königsbach wine producer names Riesling as the most important grape variety; in addition, Weissburgunder, Grauburgunder, Spätburgunder and Sauvignon Blanc are grown.
History and Townscape
Since the 14th century, the Idig has been documented as a court estate of the electors of the Palatinate. In the historical core of the town, among other things, there is a former residence of the auxiliary bishop of Speyer and the parish church of St. Johannes. Inside the church there is an altarpiece from the 15th century. Königsbach’s vineyards belong to the protected designation of origin Pfalz.
