Location and context
The Kaisergarten is a single-vineyard site in Gau-Weinheim in Rheinhessen. It belongs to the larger site Kurfürstenstück in the Bingen area and, according to the municipality, comprises about 59 hectares.
Topography and climate
The vineyard lies in a south-facing hollow at the foot of the Wißberg, which is 271 metres high. According to a local description, it is protected from cold northerly winds. The small-scale climate in the hollow supports the ripening of the grapes.
Soil and wine style
The soil is described as marl, or Pelosol, and consists of calcareous, clayey deposits from a tertiary sea. It is deep, rich in lime and nutrients, but has clay that swells, limited water permeability, and difficult root penetration. The wines produced from this are described as fruity, full-bodied, dense and rich, with moderate acidity and persistent fruit.
Grape variety and vinification
Chardonnay is documented from a wine called Gau-Weinheimer Kaisergarten by Weingut Krämer. For this wine, hand harvest is indicated, as well as fast transport into the winery, fermentation in small and large wooden barrels, and a maturation lasting several months in barriques and a 900-litre tonneau. For a Kaisergarten wine by Stumm & Klein, spontaneous fermentation, spontaneous malolactic fermentation, around 18 months’ total maturation, and bottling without filtration are documented.
Name
The regional wine-growing authority traces the name Kaisergarten back to the widespread family name Kaiser, as there is no evidence of a significant royal estate in the area.
