Location and landscape
Gimmeldingen is a wine-growing village in the Pfalz. The vineyards lie on slopes and on foreland areas at the edge of a wooded highland. From there, the view extends over the adjacent plain. Elevated sites benefit from cooler night-time temperatures, while in lower areas there are flatter sections. Cool air from the wooded highland additionally contributes to cooling at night.
Soils and grape varieties
The documented vineyard soils include Bunter sandstone with clay and limestone components, weathered sandstone and sand, as well as loess over sandstone. In one local vineyard area, a limestone outcrop is also documented. For a Gimmeldingen site, Riesling is recorded as a classified grape variety; limestone-rich areas are particularly suitable for Pinot Blanc. The wines are described as spicy and mineral. Pinot grape varieties show a firm, elegant structure and ripen comparatively slowly.
Viticulture
The documented vineyard sites include hillside and foreland areas with plots that receive early morning sun and evening shade. At the winery Christmann, around 70 percent of the range of grape varieties is accounted for by Riesling; Spätburgunder, Grauburgunder and Muskateller are also grown. The business states that it has an EU organic certification and a biodynamic certification.
History
Gimmeldingen is first documented in 1109. A neighbouring settlement was incorporated in 1751, and in 1969 the village became part of the town administration of Neustadt an der Weinstraße. A winemakers’ brotherhood has been documented since 1472. The first recorded Gimmeldingen almond blossom festival took place on 15 April 1934 in connection with promoting wine and tourism.
