Location and vineyards
The Zimmermann winery is located in Wachenheim in the wine-growing region Pfalz in Germany. Around 10 hectares of vineyards are spread across the Wachenheim sites Fuchsmantel, Gerümpel, Königswingert, Luginsland and Schloßberg. Among them are vineyards facing south, gently east-sloping slopes, open valleys, well-ventilated sites and areas along the Pfälzerwald forest.
Soils and climate
The vineyards grow on loess, red and weathered Buntsandstein, clay-influenced Buntsandstein weathering soils, calcareous marl, gravel and sandy material. In Königswingert and in Fuchsmantel, cool conditions are provided by cold night air. The cooler Schloßberg ripens later, while Altenburg features a sheltered microclimate and Luginsland a particularly warm, early-ripening microclimate.
Grape varieties and wine style
Riesling makes up around two thirds of the vineyard area and forms the focus of the range. It is complemented by Burgunder varieties and red wines. Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder, Chardonnay, Scheurebe, Müller-Thurgau, Silvaner, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Spätburgunder, Blauer Portugieser, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are also grown. The Rieslings are described as slim, elegant and finely defined, with a distinct acidity; around 80 percent of the wines are produced dry.
Farming and maturation
Documented viticulture includes manual work, biological farming, low yields and hand-harvesting. Emil Zimmermann began the family’s wine-growing activities in the 1950s after the Second World War. Jürgen Zimmermann joined the business in 1990 and took over in 1996. In the cellar, the wines ferment under controlled conditions for four to eight weeks and then ripen partly in stainless steel tanks and partly in traditional large wooden casks. Increasingly, spontaneous fermentation using vineyard-native yeasts is used.
