A small report on the creation of the Parkhotel vineyard on the occasion of the blessing of the vineyard and the statue of the saint.
A Vineyard in Lower Bavaria?
Once again, it is Alois Hartl, who – as he himself says – likes to take up bizarre ideas and try something new.
The result: A paradise garden with vines, vegetable and flower beds, berry bushes, fruit trees, as well as lavender and sunflower fields on the southwest side of Bad Griesbach-Therme. Now, the new vineyard and a carved statue of a saint have been blessed.
Just at the moment when Father Klaus Stolz and Parochial Vicar Klaus Huber were giving their blessing, the sun broke through the thick cloud cover, and the bells of the Emmauskirche began to ring. "We’ve practiced this for a long time, so that everything would align perfectly," the two priests said with a smile. The group around Alois Hartl was cheerful, as there was a lovely reason for the gathering: the blessing of the new vineyard and the carved statue of Saint Urban.
"I've always been open to seemingly foolish ideas," began spa and golf pioneer Alois Hartl as he spoke at the inauguration. Wolfgang Off, the hotel manager at the Parkhotel, had introduced the idea of building a vineyard one day. "Wine in Lower Bavaria – that certainly sounded strange at first," Hartl admitted. But with much enthusiasm, a young winemaker among the staff, and a plot of land in an ideal location, the vision was eventually realized.
This passage describes the creation of the vineyard at Parkhotel and the special event of its blessing, showcasing Alois Hartl’s adventurous spirit and vision.
On the southwest side of the spa area, below the Fürstenhof Hotel, lies the new vineyard.
"Our goal was to create a true garden of delight," explains Hartl. The paradisiacal result of two years of work is now visible to walkers as they pass through the large metal gate adorned with the "P" for "Parkhotel." Vines stretch across the hillside, with a lush farm garden on the right side, filled with herbs, vegetables, and flowers. Berry bushes are scattered throughout the garden, along with nut and mirabelle trees. In the lower part of the garden, a lavender bed and a magnificent sunflower field complete the landscape. The centerpiece of the estate is the "Regent" variety grapevines, which Alois Hartl, together with several partners, had planted the previous year. "According to the new German winegrowing law, the rows no longer have to be spaced as far apart. We’ve now filled the space with additional vines," Hartl explains. The renowned and experienced winemaker from Austria’s Kamptal region, Peter Dolle, provided expert advice. The landscaping and maintenance of the garden are carried out by the Wasner company from Aunham.
Alois Hartl made the land available for free and financed the project together with the Parkhotel. Since wine and faith go hand in hand, it was important to him that the vineyard be blessed and that a statue of a saint be placed there. The choice was made to honor Saint Urban, the patron saint of wine. "Wine gladdens our hearts, it is a remedy, and it is connected to Christ. That’s why we’re especially happy to be here," emphasized the two priests during the ecumenical blessing. "But this is not the first vineyard in Bad Griesbach," Father Klaus Stolz interjected with a wink. The first "Vineyard of the Lord" was consecrated 24 years ago with the Emmauskirche. "Now we have a vineyard at the entrance and a vineyard at the end of the spa area."
This passage describes the creation and development of the vineyard, its features, and the ceremony marking its blessing, highlighting both the physical beauty of the space and its spiritual significance.
