Weingut Zähringer is a Biodynamic estate in the Markgräflerland sub-region of Baden in Germany. The estate  was established in 1844 by Wilhelm and Josef Zähringer in Heitersheim on the edge of the Black Forest.

Owner: Wolfgang Zähringer (6th generation).

Staff: Vineyard Manager: Paulin Köpfer (and his son Gabriel).

Vineyards: 9.75 hectares (24 acres) of estate vineyards plus grape purchases from local growers whose 40 hectares (99 acres) are certified either organic or Demeter Biodynamic.

Biodynamics: Horn manure 500. Horn silica 501. Small amounts of Biodynamic compost 502-507.

Cover crops: Under the management of cover crop specialist Paulin Köpfer a sward is left between the vines all year. The inter-rows are re-sown each spring with low growing plants like alfalfa, clover, mustard, salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor), mallows (Malva), and Calendula. The soil is lifted at a depth of 25cm with a subsoiler, but is not turned. This allows both subsoil and top soil with its vegetative covering to remain in place whereas with traditional ploughing the topsoil ends up as subsoil and the subsoil ends up as topsoil, causing erosion and the appearance of more aggressive weeds.

Certification: 1987 Converted to organics. | 2005 Began working biodynamically. | 2010 Demeter certified Biodynamic for the first time. | 2017 Still Demeter certified Biodynamic.

Wines

Heitersheimer Castelberg:

Heitersheimer Maltesgarten: Fertile loamy soil. Rivaner, Pinot Gris, Gutedel. | 2011 Gutedel (Chasselas) 80,000 bottles. Wide, soft, easy (Millésime Bio 2012).

Heitersheimer Sonnhöhle: Deep loess in the Sonnhohle. Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir.

Spätburgunder, SR: 2008 100% Pinot Noir. Barrel aged. 2,000-5,000 bottles. Briary at (Millésime Bio 2012).

Contact

Weingut Zähringer

Johanniterstrasse 61

D-79423 Heitersheim

Tel+49 (0)7634 50489 | Website: www.weingut-zaehringer.de