Location and Topography
Himmelreich is a vineyard site in Gundelsheim in Württemberg, on the Michaelsberg above the Neckar. The site, which is oriented to the south to south-southwest, lies at an elevation of 120 to 200 metres and has a documented slope gradient of 100 per cent.
Soils and Terraces
The cultivated soils consist of deep weathered shell limestone material with loess components. The vineyard areas in Gundelsheim cover around 2.5 hectares of terraced vineyards with dry-stone walls of more than five metres in height. The VDP classifies Himmelreich as a VDP.GROSSE LAGE with a classified area of 2.74 hectares.
History and Cultivation
Himmelreich is documented as a historic terraced vineyard in connection with the Teutonic Order. The historic terraced vineyards of Himmelreich and Michaelsberg with walls, paths, vineyard huts and water channels are protected in Gundelsheim as a listed cultural ensemble. The oldest vines on the Gundelsheim plots are more than 50 years old.
Cultivation is carried out with permanent, full-area ground cover, including on the terraces. Documented measures include humus management, mineral fertilisation, targeted care of the ground cover, and exclusively biological and biotechnical pest control. Defoliation of the leaf wall is intended to reduce susceptibility to botrytis and, in red grapes, to support colour and fruit development.
Spätburgunder
For the VDP.GROSSE LAGE Himmelreich, Spätburgunder is classified. A documented vintage from 2023 by the state winery Weinsberg is dry, dark ruby-red, and shows berry fruit, herbs and smoky-spicy notes, with a pronounced structure and distinctive tannins. It was prepared from selected fully ripe grapes, fermented spontaneously on the mash, and matured for 20 months in wooden barrels.
