Location and soil
Hansen is designated as the registered wine-growing site “Plochinger Hansen” in the Nothalde area by Plochingen. It is located on the western edge of town near Altbach and Deizisau. The vineyard covers about 1.1 hectares and has a moderate slope gradient, which limits mowing, ploughing and transport using machinery. The soil consists of nodular marl with layered clay strata and light limestone concretions.
History and classification
Winegrowing in the Nothalde has been documented for more than 500 years. After the area was abandoned at the beginning of the 19th century and became overgrown, in 1984 the association was founded to promote historical winegrowing in Plochingen. In the same year, vines were planted again; the first harvest from the restored vineyard took place in 1986. “Plochinger Hansen” is registered in the German wine-growing sites register under number 13.3.5.077.
Cultivation and grape varieties
The vineyard is managed by members of the association for promoting historical winegrowing in Plochingen, with technical support from the Esslinger Wengerter Achim Jahn. The annual work includes vine pruning, training, tying in, regulating ground cover, thinning out the shoots, opening up the leaf canopy and later shortening it. Yield is limited by quality-oriented pruning to around 7,000 litres per year. The grape varieties planted are Trollinger (42 per cent), Grüner Veltliner (22 per cent), Lemberger (13 per cent), Riesling (9 per cent), Kerner (8 per cent) and Dornfelder (6 per cent). The cultivation of Grüner Veltliner was made possible in 1983 through an exception permit issued by the Stuttgart Regional Council; the planting material comes from Austria.
Harvest and vinification
The harvest begins, depending on the ripeness of the grapes and the weather, from September onwards. The date is approved by the municipal council under local bylaws, whose documented roots go back to a regulation from 1469. Since the 2006 vintage, cellar master Adolf Bayer from Weingut Adolf Bayer in Esslingen has been responsible for the cellar work. The wines are aged separately according to grape variety and vinified varietally. Documented, among others, are Grüner Veltliner, Grauburgunder, Kerner, Riesling, Trollinger, Dornfelder and Lemberger, as well as the white wine blend Küweele and a Secco variant.
