Location and size
Himmelreich is a single vineyard site behind the Ortsteile of Zeltingen and Rachtig in the municipality of Zeltingen-Rachtig on the Moselle. It is considered the largest of the three most important vineyard sites in the municipality.
Relief and soils
The site comprises steep, very steep, sloping and flatter areas with hillside inclines of 5 to 75 percent. The core areas behind the town centre face south-southeast; further downstream, the plots turn towards southwest and west. The soils contain weathered slate, fine clayey slate-weathering material with humus, as well as partly clay, gravel and sedimentary rock.
Microclimate and grape varieties
The Moselle and the orientation of the vineyards contribute to the local microclimate. Himmelreich is described as being protected from wind and frost. Riesling and Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) grow in the site; in addition, Chardonnay, Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Sauvignon Blanc are documented. Rieslings from this site are associated with expressive fruit character, slate-influenced minerality and lively acidity.
Wines and cultivation
For Zeltinger Himmelreich, Rieslings of the Prädikat levels Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese and Eiswein are documented. Kabinett wines are particularly associated with the upper parts and with areas that turn towards the west. The grapes from documented plots are read selectively by hand; individual selected plots are harvested in a pick at optimal ripeness. The described wines were briefly tank-fermented, fermented spontaneously at low temperature and matured on fine lees in stainless steel and in large wooden vessels. A wine from the Römische Kapelle plot was fermented slowly in a large oak barrel and matured on the fine lees for a longer period. Zeltinger Himmelreich is also listed on a historic wine-growing map of the Regierungsbezirk Trier from 1906.
