Rysselkuppe

Did the Rysselkuppe always have its distinctive cone shape? Perhaps not. The Rysselkuppe, a cone-shaped vineyard, rests at the foot of the Borsberg mountain. It’s nestled between Pillnitz and Oberpoyritz. This unique landmark takes its name from a former owner, Gottfried von Ryssel. Today, winemaker Klaus Zimmerling and sculptor Małgorzata Chodakowska cultivate the vineyard. The vineyard’s history distinguishes between the steep, rising kuppe (peak or mound) and the flatter slopes. These slopes lie above and below the mountain path, also planted with vines. This lower area once belonged to Heinrich Freiherr von Friesen. He owned Schönfeld Castle. In 1675, it was sold to Johann Balthasar Grolig. Grolig expanded the vineyard in 1679 with a purchase from the von Bünau brothers. At that time, the vineyard was known as the Friesischer Weinberg. Upon Grolig’s death in 1705, it passed to his son-in-law, Gottfried von Ryssel. The heirs continued to cultivate the vineyard even after Ryssel’s death in 1707. In 1721, the vineyard was sold to the electoral chamber. It was then called the Rysselscher Weinberg. Interestingly, the kuppe itself wasn’t initially part of the Rysselscher Weinberg. Only in the 1830s did plans arise to extend the vineyard uphill. The western half, “breite Leithe,” belonged to the royal forest. The eastern half, however, was already a vineyard owned by the Merbitz family. This vineyard was called Grauls. In 1837, two plots of royal forest were transferred to the royal vineyard administration. The Merbitz vineyard and the forest above it were purchased by the state treasury. The existing boundary walls, marked with dates, were erected around this time. By 1838, it was known as the Rysselscher Berg. Winemaking ceased by the late 19th century. The name Rysselkuppe first appears on maps around this time. In the 20th century, the former vineyard became a peach plantation, garden land, or simply wilderness. Winemaking resumed in 1984 when 1.5 hectares were replanted. Since 1992, the entire Rysselkuppe has been a vineyard once again. So, although today the Rysselkuppe is synonymous with wine, its journey has been one of transformation, shaped by the hands of many over centuries.