Konigsbach is a wine district at the heart of the Pfalz region in western Germany. It is named for the village of Konigsbach (formerly Königsbach an der Weinstrasse), located just a few miles north of Neustadt town, right on the edge of the Pfälzerwald forest. Riesling and Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir) do particularly well in the mottled clay, sandstone and limestone soils here.
Immediately above the village towers the 1817ft (554m) Weinbiet peak, one of the highest points in the Haardt Mountains that are so vital to the local terroir. Thanks to the rain shadow cast by these low-lying mountains, Konigsbach and its vineyards enjoy a drier, more sheltered climate than that found on the other side of the River Rhine. The combination of low rainfall, high sunshine hours and shelter from cold westerly winds creates excellent wine-growing conditions. Other than wine grapes, Konigsbach produces almonds, chestnuts, figs and citrus fruit.
Two vineyards in Konigsbach, Idig and Ölberg, have been classified as Grosse Lage by the VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikats und Qualitatsweingüter – the Association of German Prädikats and Quality Wine Estates). Both are located to the north of the village.
The Idig vineyard faces south to south-east on a relatively steep and sheltered slope. The topsoil is rich in clay and limestone and lies over chalky sands and a solid bedrock of tertiary limestone. With cellaring, Königsbacher Idig wines become elegant, fruity and complex, with a refreshing streak of minerality.
The Ölberg site is a northern extension of the Idig vineyard. Its south-eastern orientation makes the most of the cool morning sunshine. Its soils are a mix of clay, sandstone, and limestone boulders. It owes its name (which means 'Mount of Olives') to a small chapel which was constructed there in 1879, home to an image of Christ on the Mount of Olives.
Another vineyard of note here is Jesuitengarten, not to be confused with the more-famous Jesuitengarten located just to the north, in Forst.
