Location and landscape
Gerlingen lies on the southern edge of the Ludwigsburg district near the Böblingen district and on the outskirts of the city of Stuttgart in Baden-Württemberg. The town extends from the Strohgäu and the Neckar basin in the north via a hillside zone to the Glemswald highland in the south. The terrain ranges from about 305 metres above sea level near Unterhausen to 525 metres at the water tower on the Schillerhöhe; the town hall is at approximately 338 metres.
Vine growing on the Bopser
The Gerlinger Bopser lies on a steep slope above the valley. The vineyard site includes the sub-areas Lettlenberg, Rote Halde and Tal and extends over about seven hectares. The hillside zone between Forchenrain and Bopser is predominantly characterised by vineyards and orchard meadows. In the Rote Halde sub-area, red marl and sandstone layers are documented.
Grape varieties and vinification
In Gerlingen, red grape varieties such as Trollinger, Lemberger, Schwarzriesling, Dornfelder, Zweigelt, Samtrot and Spätburgunder are grown. White grape varieties include Kerner, Weißburgunder, Riesling, Silvaner and Grauburgunder. Red and white wines are produced from these; in addition, ageing in Barrique barrels is documented. Some hobby winemakers process the harvest from their own plots themselves.
Historical development
The Hirsau monastery owned about one hectare of vineyards in Gerlingen in the 12th century; a wine press is documented there for the year 1399. In 1731, the vineyards covered roughly 140 hectares. By the end of the First World War, the area had shrunk to about 30 hectares. Historical records describe vineyards from Forchenrain to Stöckach, which in 1832 extended as far as Gartenstraße.
