Location and classification
The name Heitersheimer Maltesergarten is documented around Heitersheim in the Markgräflerland. It also includes plots in the cadastral areas of Heitersheim and Gallenweiler. As a single site (Einzellage), the Heitersheimer Maltesergarten belongs to the large site (Großlage) Lorettoberg. The name is connected with former lands of the Order of Malta around Heitersheim. In addition, in Buggingen a designation Bugginger Maltesergarten is documented.
Climate, relief and soils
For the Heitersheimer Maltesergarten, a mean annual temperature of 10 to 11 °C and annual rainfall of 750 to 850 mm are given. Cooling night winds from the Black Forest reach the wine-growing site. Around 80 percent of the area has a gentle slope of 0 to 20 percent; the exposure is predominantly south to south-west. The relief is described as gently to distinctly undulating. The soils consist of loess and loess marl, beneath which are deep, calcareous loess soils.
Grape varieties and wines
From the Maltesergarten, Gutedel (Chasselas), Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder and Spätburgunder are documented. For the Bugginger Maltesergarten, Gewürztraminer and Ruländer are additionally recorded. Among the documented wines are dry Weißburgunder and dry Spätburgunder. The Spätburgunder comes from old vines and is designated as Qualitätswein.
Cultivation and ageing
The vineyards farmed by Walz are cultivated according to organic farming guidelines without synthetic fertilisers and chemical plant protection. For a Spätburgunder, grapes from old vines were selectively picked, harvested by hand and produced with very low yields. In a documented Weißburgunder, 20 percent of the wine matured for twelve months in Tonneau barrels. The stated Spätburgunder was matured with very little wooden ageing.
