Location and landscape
Waiblingen is located in the Rems valley in Baden-Württemberg, about ten kilometres north-east of Stuttgart, in the wine-growing region Württemberg. The municipality includes Beinstein, Bittenfeld, Hegnach, Hohenacker and Neustadt. The Rems borders the city area; the surrounding area is characterised by forested steep slopes and valley locations used for agriculture.
Climate and soils
For Neustadt, a mild climate is described, while fog frequently forms in the Rems valley. The historical settlement core of Neustadt is located on a long limestone spur. The soils there consist of clay and limestone. On the Söhrenberg, gypsum deposits in the Keuper were previously mined and processed into agricultural gypsum in local gypsum mills.
Wine-growing history
Wine-growing is part of the agricultural landscape of Waiblingen and is documented, among other places, in Neustadt and Beinstein. Before the Thirty Years’ War, the area under vines in Neustadt covered at least 200 Morgen; after the war, about a quarter of this remained under cultivation. From the middle of the 18th century onwards, the rebuilding of the vineyards increased. Historic vineyard stones document cultivation by local residents and absentee landowners.
Grape varieties and vineyards
At the Söhrenberg, Trollinger, Spätburgunder, Riesling, Cabernet Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc are documented under certified organic cultivation. For the site Steingrüble, Riesling, Chardonnay and Weißburgunder are recorded. There, gypsum marl and heat-storing quartz sandstone shape the soils; from the grapes grown there, expressive white wines are produced.
