The steep Wielo vineyards
Our vineyards are located in the area between Ludwigsburg and Ingersheim. Our centuries-old vines stand on limestone soil and sink their roots into the Neckar river.
Our vineyards are typical in the southern German regions and are called "Steillage", literally steep slopes.
Steep slopes are vineyards with a gradient of at least 45 degrees or more than 30 per cent. Many of them were created between the 13th and 15th centuries. The precious farmland was forbidden for wine growing. Wine enthusiasts will find this special backdrop in the Neckar (where we are located), Enz and Stromberg wine regions. But the steep slopes can also be found in Lembergerland along the Enz and in the Black Forest.
One of the great advantages of these steep vineyards is the special thermal behavior, which offer the best conditions for the vines. The slope allows optimal orientation to the path of the sun. It ensures that the vines on steep slopes get more sun than those on flat slopes - simply because the rows of vines do not shade each other.
Exposure, the technical term for the orientation of the vineyard to the sun, is one thing. The other is the circulation of air on a steep slope. In the evening, the cool air descends, giving the grapes the necessary rest. In the morning, the air warms up again and travels up the hills. As a result, the temperature rises more moderately than on a flat site. As an additional advantage of this particular thermal system, these kind of vineyards are generally less susceptible to frost damage.
Nowadays Steillagen are still divided by historic dry stone walls. The vineyards, which can often only be cultivated by hand, demand a great deal from the winegrowers. Manual labour is also required during the harvest. The additional effort is not insignificant and is about three times as much as with machine processing. A love for wine and a strong awareness of tradition are the basic prerequisites for this kind of cultivation.
What is also very typical in the Neckar wine region is the shell limestone soil type. The soil has a yellowish colour. It is dry and stony. The combination of shell limestone and steep slopes in the wine-growing areas presents a challenge for winegrowers. The slopes are difficult to cultivate and must be protected against erosion. But the effort is worth it, because thanks to its special properties, shell limestone produces first-class wines with a special character.
The speciality of shell limestone is its high clay content. This provides the vines with an excellent supply of minerals. These support the growth of the vines. Another plus point is that shell limestone has many stones. It is an ideal heat store. The stones heat up in the sun and transfer the heat quickly. This causes the clay to heat up. It only releases the heat slowly - ideal for growing vines.
Shell limestone is capable of storing little water. A large proportion of the moisture remains bound in the clay. However, the vines need water to grow. In order to reach it in the shell limestone, the vines develop a deep and strong root system. This later results in excellent wines with peculiar taste.
