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 HEITLINGER — Founded in 1960, Heitlinger is Burg Ravensburg's mirror image: 85% of plantings in Burgundy varieties (Spätburgunder, Grauburgunder, Weißburgunder, Auxerrois, Chardonnay), with Riesling reduced to a minor role. The vineyards sit high on marls and sandstone around 210 million years old that turn white, purple, red, and variegated within a few hundred meters. Oak for some of the estate's barrels is harvested from its own hill above the Grosse Lage Eichelberg. Together, Heitlinger and Burg Ravensburg 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.