The VDP.Grosse Lage Idig site is one of the most highly-rated sites in the Palatine region and as the sole owners of this site we have made it the cornerstone of our winery. The wines produced from this site belong to the defining wines in the category of “Grosses Gewächs” (comparable to Grand Cru wines). These wines are celebrated annually all over the world and they are counted amongst the best wines in this category. The Idig wines are recognised as some of the most important German Grand Crus in both the Gault Millau WeinGuide as well as the Eichelmann Weinführer.
The royal Idig site first appeared in public records in the 14th century, when it made up part of the estate of the Palatine Electors. The Electors’ preference for this site meant that the site is a rarity in the Palatine region as it covers a full 4 hectares of superbly-situated land. By Palatine standards the vineyard falls steeply to the south-southeast. A constant gentle breeze, however, blows through the Klausen Valley from the Stabenberg, keeping the vineyard healthy through its drying effect.
The Idig is situated on top of solid limestone, deposited here in the tertiary age from limestone deposits created during the break-up of the Upper Rhine Plain. The top layers of the site are made up of “terra fusca”, a combination of chalk, clay and red sandstone eroded from the Haardt hills over millennia and deposited on the slopes of Mittelhaardt. In the top layers of the soil there is a large amount of limestone but also a substantial amount of basalt, brought to the site around 150 years ago from the Forster Pechsteinkopf vineyard
The wines are full of elegance, saltiness and fruit. Through the high minerality these qualities are all subtly displayed. The wines have a polished acidity and they are always silky and round. Whilst young the wines delight with their youthful aromas but the wines’ truest qualities are released only after being stored for some years.
An early harvest selects grapes that are already ripe and these grapes are used for the VDP.Ortswein Königsbach. The Grand Cru harvest of the Idig site takes place after this early harvest. During one or two rounds of picking the grapes are selected according to strict criteria, taking only healthy grapes at the peak of ripeness. The yields are generally around 40hl/ha so that the grapes achieve optimal taste.