Location and landscape
Malsch is a municipality in the Rhein-Neckar district in Baden-Württemberg and lies in the Kraichgau on the south-facing slope of the Letzenberg. The vineyards stretch along the southern slopes of the Letzenberg and its eastern continuation; the Letzenberg reaches about 245 to 247 metres above sea level. Malsch belongs to the wine-growing region Baden.
Climate and soils
The Kraichgau is characterised by a comparatively dry and warm basin climate with continental temperature fluctuations, average annual temperatures of around 8 to 9 °C and a long growing season. On the southern slopes of the Malsch Letzenberg there are deep loess clay soils with a high lime content and good water-retention capacity.
Viticulture and grape varieties
Malsch has around 120 hectares of vineyard area on the slopes of the Letzenberg and its eastern continuation. The two documented wine sites are Ölbaum and Rotsteig. The most important grape varieties include Müller-Thurgau, Weißburgunder, Ruländer and Spätburgunder. Examples from the sites are white wines made from Gewürztraminer in the Malsch Ölbaum and red wines made from Spätburgunder in the Malsch Rotsteig.
History and wine law
Malsch was first mentioned in 783. Viticulture on the Letzenberg has been documented since the High Middle Ages; the first specific documentary reference to winegrowing in Malsch dates from the year 1302. The Malsch winegrowing association was founded in 1926, and the Letzenberg wine cooperative in 1930. Malsch is assigned to the Kraichgau wine-growing area and the Großlage Mannaberg; traditional Malsch plot names can, under the requirements of wine law, be used as geographical designations for wines from Malsch.
