What I Learned

One of the Wuerttemberg’s many wine zones in the Unterland district, the Heuchelberg, is located west of Heilbronn. The area is known as the land of 1000 hills, perfect for planting vineyards!

The Heuchelberg is a long mountain ridge in this area. Heavily wooded on top, its south- and west- facing slopes are well situated to catch the rays of the sun. Viticulture is one of several agricultural endeavors practiced here. (Grains, corn, and fruit trees are some of the other local products of the land.) Little villages nestle in sheltered contours of the ridge, and some, like Neipperg and Haberschlacht, are known as wine villages. The main towns (and wine centers) around the Heuchelberg are Eppingen, Schwaigern and Brackenheim.

Some of the named growing areas on the slopes of this ridge include the Ruthe, the Sonnenberg, the Steingrube and the Grafenberg. Both red and white varietals grow here.

But since the local bicycle circuit was called the Lemberger Tour, I will focus on it. Lemberger is a grape that generally-speaking does quite well in the Wuerttemberg Wine Region. This red varietal is also known as Blaufraenkische, and is believed to have come here from Austria in the 18th century. It flowers early, but matures late, and is fairly resistant to pests. The wine it produces has a medium to dark red color, and has pronounced aromas of red berries, sour cherries, blackberries, and currants. It is one of the spicier, fuller-bodied red wines from Germany.

Lemberger is sometimes blended with the lighter-bodied (and, incidentally, the lighter-skinned) Trollinger (the Schiava or Vernatsch of Italy’s Tirol region), to produce a wine called “Trollinger mit Lemberger”.  It seems to be a regional specialty, as it is highly unusual to find outside Wuerttemberg. And, judging from its presence on regional supermarket shelves, this blend is one of the more popular red wines in Wuerttemberg.

  

What I Tasted

2015 Lemberger, Kleingartacher Grafenberg, Kabinett, Trocken, Praedikatswein, Heuchelberg Weingaertner (Schwaigern): A dry red wine with medium-dark ruby red color; fruity, red berry and spicy nose, and flavors of the same; medium-low tannins, and interesting character overall.

2015 Lemberger, Auslese, Praedikatswein, Heuchelberg Weingaertner: An off-dry red wine with medium-dark ruby red color; red berry nose, and red berry, especially raspberry flavors; mild tannins, but with a full-bodied mouth-feel, with a smooth finish.

2015 Trollinger mit Lemberger, Qualitaetswein, Haberschlachter Heuchelberg; Trocken, Qualitaetswein, Wuerttembergische Weingaertener Zentralgenossenschaft (Moeglingen): A dry red wine blend (Trollinger and Lemberger) with light ruby red color; a slight red fruit nose, cherry, spice vanilla, medium tannins

2015 Trollinger, Trocken, QbA, Weingut Echle (Neipperg): A dry red wine with light red ruby color; slight spice and rubber nose, with slight spicy, cherry flavors; mild tannins.

2014 Lemberger, Wein Palais Nordheim series, Trocken, Praedikatswein, Heuchelberg Weingaertner: A dry red wine with medium ruby red color; red berry nose, with spice and red berry flavors; mild tannins with a smooth finish.

2013 Lemberger, Trocken, Qualitaetswein, Weingut des Grafen Neipperg: A dry red wine with dark garnet red color; a red berry nose, and flavors of red berries, spicy spice, and vanilla; fairly high tannins, and lots of character.

2013 Lemberger, Alte Reben, Qualitaetswein, Heuchelberg Weingaertner: A dry red wine with medium-light ruby red color; a red berry nose, and red berry flavors; mild tannins.