Burg Ravensburg

Heinz Heiler acquired two estates in the Kraichgau, the sun-warmed, gentle rolling hills the Germans call the Badische Toskana, the Tuscany of Baden. Burg Ravensburg, one of Germany's oldest, and Heitlinger, a beautiful modern property. To run both, he brought in Claus Burmeister, who grew up on the Burg Ravensburg estate and is utterly steeped in the region. Soft-spoken but intense, Claus has lifted the pair to the absolute summit of Baden wines; they hold 80% of the vineyards entitled to Grosses Gewächs status in the Kraichgau, and Claus displays a mastery of different idioms that is quite remarkable. The public face of both estates now belongs to Heiler's grandsons, Philip and Patrick Jacklin, whose other grandfather is Tony Jacklin, winner of the 1969 Open and the 1970 US Open. ABOUT BURG RAVENSBURG —- founded in 1251 by Cistercian monks who had come from Burgundy. The castle on the label is the real one, and the vines grow directly beneath it in Sulzfeld, on slopes as steep as 35%: three monopole VDP Grosse Lagen (Husarenkappe, Löchle, and Dicker Franz) rooted in gypsum keuper soils more than 230 million years old. Riesling and Blaufränkisch together account for 80% of plantings (one of the first estates to plant both in Baden), with Burgundy varieties filling the balance. Together, Burg Ravensburg and Heitlinger farm a combined 115 hectares biodynamically, and their ability to offer a comprehensive range at that scale and quality is reminiscent of Austrian estates like Bründlmayer and Schloss Gobelsburg.

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Producer:	Burg Ravensburg
Country:	Germany
Region:	Baden - Kraichgau
Subregion:	Kraichgau
City of Origin:	Östringen-Tiefenbach
Owner Name:	Heinz Heiler
Vineyard Size:	38 HA
Total Annual Production:	300,000 bottles

Property History:

Weingut Burg Ravensburg is at home in the idyllic landscape between Karlsruhe, Heidelberg, and Heilbronn known as the Kraichgau. This ambitious ambassador of Kraichgau wine culture lend the Baden region a special note. The pursuit of quality, sustainability, and a responsible approach to nature is the hallmark of the estate. With a combined vineyard area of more than 110 ha (272 acres), they number among Germany’s largest organic wine producers. Burg Ravensburg is member of the VDP (Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates), an organization comprising some of the country’s finest wine producers. Altitude: 190-285 meters/623-935 feet, Slope: up to 35% Burg Ravensburg wines are produced from the grapes of vines rooted in the mineral-rich, warm gypsum marl soils encircling the castle. The estate’s qualitatively outstanding vineyards and favorable topographical profile yield wines full of character that appeal with their fine mineral tones, ripe fruit, and long finish.

Owner History:

First mentioned in a document in 1251, the Burg Ravensburg winery is not only one of the oldest in the world, it is also known for its historic individual vineyards. The Heiler family now is the owner of the winery, following 26 generations of owner families. The vinyards are located on the south-western to south-eastern slopes and have characteristic names such as Riesling HUSARENKAPPE or KAPELLENBERG, Burgundy is known as LÖCHLE and Blaufränkisch as DICKER FRANZ.