Weingut im Zwölberich is a Biodynamic winery in the Nahe region of Germany, midway between Bad Kreuznach and Bingen-am-Rhein.
Owner: Hartmut Heintz [b.1961] took over this Lower Nahe domaine in 1985, at the age of twenty-four, when his father Walter retired. “My father was organic-minded,” says Heintz. “In the 1950s, he planted vineyards with a big distance of 3.5 metres (11.5 feet) between the rows in order to improve mechanization. But he did not use weedkillers, instead letting indigenous plants grow.”
Vineyards: 2003 17 hectares (42 acres). 2008 21 hectares (52 acres). 2013 25 hectares (62 acres).
Vine spacing: The rows are three meters (nine feet) apart, twice as far apart as the vineyard next door. “The vines get more light and air this way. Wild herbs, vetch, clover and Phacelia can grow wild between the rows. These plants attract wildlife such as butterflies, bees, songbirds or hedgehogs, ensuring a natural biological balance which helps to control pests. This wider planting also allows the grapes to dry more quickly after rainfall, making it easier to control the spread of fungal disease organisms,” says Heintz.
Terroir: Heintz says “The areas surrounding Langenlonsheim and Guldental are characterised by different soil types. Terraced gravelly soil, loam, sand and red (iron-rich) soil are just some of these. The reason for the particularly large variety of types of soil and grapevines is that the Nahe is situated on a large geological seam.”
Biodynamics:The six Biodynamic compost preparations 502-507 are applied to the vineyard in liquid form as the Maria Thun barrel compost spray 502-507. The cow manure for this is sourced from a Demeter-certified dairy herd nearby.
Certification: 1986 First organic practices. 1989 First Biodynamic practices. 1990 First vintage with full organic certification. 1993 First vintage with full Demeter Biodynamic certification. 2017 Still Demeter certified Biodynamic.
Other activities: Grape juice is made from estate grapes and Demeter-certified grapes from other producers.
Wines
Grauburgunder Classic: 2014 Pinot Gris. Clean, simple (Millésime Bio 2015).
Guldentalaler HONIGBERG:Vineyards here are surrounded by forest and orchards, so there is no spray drift from neighbours. Subsoil of red sandstone.
Guldentalaler ROSENTEICH RIESLING
Guldentalaler ROSENTEICH WEISSERBURGUNDER Pinot Blanc.
Langenlonsheimer Bergborn:
Langenlonsheimer Königsschild:
Langenlonsheimer Lauerweg:
Langenlonsheimer Löhrer Berg: Planted with Silvaner and Pinot Gris.
Langenlonsheimer St Antoniusweg:
Langenlonsheimer Steinchen: Planted with Pinot Noir, Dunkelfelder, Dornfelder, Rivaner, Müller-Thurgau.
Langenlonsheimer Steinchen, Spätburgunder: 2011 Pinot Noir. Tired, not for me (Millésime Bio 2015).
Contact
Weingut im Zwölberich
Schutzenstrasse 14
55450 Langenlonsheim, Germany
Tel+49 (0)6704 9200 | Website: www.zwoelbereich.de