Location and landscape
Gundelsheim lies to the east of the Neckar in the northern district of Heilbronn in Baden-Württemberg at an altitude of around 154 metres. The town is located at the intersection of the natural regions Neckar Basin, Hohenlohe-Haller Plain, Kocher-Jagst Plains and Bauland. In Gundelsheim, the Neckar forms a broad meander; to the east of the town, vineyards lie on the steep bank (Prallhang) of an earlier river course.
Vineyards and soils
The Himmelreich vineyard on the Michaelsberg is a steep site, oriented to the south to south-southwest, at an elevation of 120 to 200 metres and a gradient of 100 percent. Terraces and retaining walls up to several metres high shape the site. The Himmelreich, classified by the VDP as VDP.GROSSE LAGE, covers 2.74 hectares; the classified grape variety is Spätburgunder.
Gundelsheim’s geological subsoil consists largely of Upper Muschelkalk and Lower Keuper, locally covered with loess clay (Lösslehm). The vineyard soils of the LVWO site are described as deep, weathered Muschelkalk with a proportion of loess. There, 2.5 hectares of terrace vineyards lie directly on the Neckar with natural-stone walls more than five metres high, and 7.7 hectares of consolidated parcels form part of the holdings.
Grape varieties and wine style
At the LVWO site, grape varieties grown include Spätburgunder, Lemberger, Schwarzriesling, Samtrot, Dornfelder, Riesling and Kerner; red varieties predominate. The oldest vines are more than 50 years old. Documented wines from the Gundelsheim Himmelreich include a dry Spätburgunder with a dark ruby colour, as well as notes of cherry and smoky aromas, and a dry Trollinger with a light garnet tone, notes of raspberry, redcurrant and almond, and fine tannins. The wines were made from fully ripe grapes selected and matured in large and small wooden casks; a Spätburgunder matured for twelve months in barrique.
Farming and history
The vineyard plots are permanently covered with vegetation, including the terraces. Herbicides are used only exceptionally and in a targeted manner; plant protection is carried out biologically and biotechnically. Intensive work on the leaves serves to improve the exposure of the grapes to light, to reduce the risk of botrytis, and to produce a stronger colour and more pronounced fruit aromas in red wines. Gundelsheim came to Württemberg in December 1805; in the 19th century, winegrowing there was expanded.
