Claus Burmeister thinks a lot about Burgundy, then ignores it, and focuses on the Kraichgau.
Location: Östringen-Tiefenbach, Baden, Germany
Hectares: 87.6
Farming: Biodynamic
People: Patrick and Phillip Jacklin (owner), Claus Burmeister (managing director)
Website: https://heitlinger-genusswelten.de/en/weingut-heitlinger/
Claus Burmeister thinks a lot about Burgundy, then ignores it, and focuses on the Kraichgau.
Weingut Heitlinger, located in Östringen-Tiefenbach in Baden’s Kraichgau, was founded by Albert Heitlinger in 1960, who developed viticulture as a side in addition to his restaurant. His son Erhard took over in 1972 and was an early adopter of barriques in Germany. Investor Heinz Heiler took over Heitlinger, and winemaker Claus Burmeister took over winemaking and operations in 2009. Claus, whose father made the wines at historic Burg Ravensberg before handing the reins to his son in 1995, is now the winemaker and executive director of both estates. Heitlinger also runs a restaurant and hotel in Östringen in addition to the winery. The winery is a member of Slow Food and, since 2012, a member of the VDP.
Weingut Heitlinger sits in Baden’s Kraichgau district, where the saying “spoiled by sunshine” applies and where uniquely colored Keuper (marl) and Muschelkalk (limestone) soils mix with loess. The climate and soil make Kriachgau the most “Burgundian” of Baden’s nine Bereiche and the Cistercians brought Pinot varieties here in the Middle Ages. Heitlinger specializes in these varieties today, with 80% of its plantings in Spätburgunder, Grauburgunder, and Weißburgunder. The estate became certified organic in 2010, making it the largest private winery in Germany with organic certification. Among its holdings are eight VDP.Erste Lagen and seven VDP.Grosse Lagen.
Grapes are hand-harvested and sorted by a photo-optic machine. The juice remains in contact with the skin for up to five days under refrigeration before fermentation. Wines are fermented primarily with ambient yeasts. The work in the cellar is carried out with great care, using pneumatic presses and gravitational force instead of pumping to transport grapes, must, and wine. Estate and village wines are vinified in stainless steel tanks while VDP.Erste Lagen and VDP.Grosse Lagen age in large oak barrels and small barriques. High on the hill above Grosse Lage Eichelberg, Heitlinger harvests the oak trees from which it produces some of its barrels.
Tech sheets/Shelf talkers/Ratings:
Weingut Heitlinger Pinot Gris Baden 2023
Weingut Heitlinger Pinot Gris Baden 2022
Weingut Heitlinger Auxerrois Baden 2023
Weingut Heitlinger Auxerrois Baden 2022
Weingut Heitlinger Pinot Noir Baden 2020
Weingut Heitlinger Pinot Noir Baden 2019
Weingut Heitlinger Pinot Meunier Reserve Baden 2018
Weingut Heitlinger Pinot Meunier Reserve Baden 2017
Weingut Heitlinger Auxerrois Hassapfel 1G 2019
Weingut Heitlinger Pinot Blanc Eichelberg GG Baden 2020
Weingut Heitlinger Pinot Blanc Eichelberg GG Baden 2019
Weingut Heitlinger Chardonnay Heinberg GG Baden 2019