THE „HISTORICAL VINEYARD“ in each of its many soil layers is truly historical terrain. Its history could fill an entire book. It lies exactly on that location which was the residence of the Thueringian kings whose reigns dated all the way back ending in the 6th Century! Beneath that hill lie the remains of the Castle Tower fortifications of the „Scithingi.“ That alone speaks volumes. From the 17th Century there exists a romantic, achitecturally remarkable vineyard hut which holds a high symbolic value for the Luetzkendorfs. Characteristic of the vineyard site are double layers of quarzite, and a vaulted level lying betweeen layers of fossil-laden calcium and colored sandstone. This type of formation is rarely found in German vineyards, otherwise only in France in Burgundy’s best Grand Cru growths. Here is where we have planted our Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner and Riesling.

THE "KALKSTEINBRUCH" or Limestone mine is a reclaimed calcium strip mine which up until the early 1990’s produced chalk for the production of cement. It lies at the edge of a 400 hectare, 600 acre depression whose encompassing stone walls rise 40 meters high, roughly 120 feet. Geologically speaking its 4.5 hectare/ 11 acres growing within the property area contains calcium, chalk, as well as red- and green clay soils.

During the summer the grapes benefit from the reflective qualities of the gigantic calcium walls surrounding the vineyard. These retain the sun’s warmth and enable Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Traminer, Pinot Noir and Portugieser to develop better. In winter the walls offer active protection from the cold and the negative aspects of winter weather. The shape of the depression at the banks of the Unstrut River provides optimal conditions for cold air drainage. In the area adjacent the vineyard itself, there remain no scars or damage resulting from the former calcium mining operations.

During the course of the past 15 years, this space developed into an idyllic biotope with its own flora and fauna. In addition to smaller animals and game, such as fox and pheasant, a pair of owls has settled in as well.

FREYBURGER EDELACKER – THE FREYBURG NOBLE ACRE

Noble wines thrive only on noble soils. The premium growth now called the Freyburger Edelacker was previously known under the name „Freyburger Schweigenberg.“ It is blessed with exceptionally fertile, deeply-set soil. Its high proportions of loam and clay soils (which retain water so well,) are exceptional for weathered, fossil-calcium-dominated soil. This is where the Blauer Zweifelt varietal finds ideal ripening conditions. Because of its steep 45’ incline, harvesting here is especially demanding.

The medieval terrace growing section is considered to be one of the most valuable culturally-historic wine growing areas in the region. It is recognized as a Grosse Lage or Grand Cru by the VDP Classification as is the Hohe Graete „High Crest.“ That portion that Luetzkendorf cultivates today once belonged to the Kloss and Foerster families until 1945.Itt was then confiscated by the State. After 1990, Michael Kloss, the grandson of the founder of the Rotkaeppchen („Red Riding Hood“) Sparkling Wine Cellars, obtained the vineyard. In 1998 this property, so rich in tradition, had to undergo soil purification, recultivation and was then re-planted to fulfill stringent requirements for cultivation of vines.