Location and Topography
Wartberg is located in the Heilbronn Wartberg area in the winegrowing region Württemberg. The classified site covers 27 hectares and is classified as VDP.ERSTE LAGE®. Its south to south-west facing plots lie at about 200 to 300 metres above sea level and have a slope of around 10 to 15 per cent.
Geology and Viticulture
The soils and geological materials of Wartberg include colourful marl, gypsum Keuper and reed sandstone. The vineyard belt lies between about 200 and 280 metres in altitude in the gypsum Keuper below the reed sandstone high plateaus. The geological sequence includes Keuper formations that were deposited more than 210 million years ago.
Grape Varieties and Wine Character
The classified site lists Lemberger, Trollinger and Merlot. In the Wartberg plots cultivated by Drautz-Able, Merlot, Trollinger and Cabernet Sauvignon are grown. The orientation and microclimate of Wartberg, together with its geology, contribute to the character of the wines from Heilbronn.
History and Cultivation
The Wartberg ridge was formerly called Nordberg. A vineyard is documented there for the year 1330; between 1400 and 1401 both names were in use. Before land consolidation, the Wartberg consisted of many small plots with numerous vineyard cottages and predominantly three-shoot vine training on stakes. Historically, weathered gypsum Keuper marl material was applied in order to protect the vineyard soils from humus loss caused by the sun, wind and water.
