The winery is located in the municipality of Großheppach (Remstal-Stuttgart area) in the German wine-growing region of Württemberg. The traditional family has been growing grapes here since 1514, i.e. for over 500 years. But the grapes have only been processed since 1975. At that time, the young viticultural technician Bernhard Ellwanger and his wife Ingrid started marketing the grapes themselves. Since 1985, the winery has been a training centre for budding winemakers, and now son Sven and daughter Yvonne are responsible for the winery after completing their studies in viticulture in Geisenheim and Heilbronn, respectively. After a practical stay in New Zealand, Sven Ellwanger has been responsible for the cellar technology since 1999.
The vineyards cover 31 hectares of vineyards in the single vineyards Steingrüble, Wanne and Zügernberg (Großheppach), Grafenberg (Schorndorf), as well as Lichtenberg (Geradstetten). They are 60% planted with the red wine varieties Pinot Noir, Lemberger (Blaufränkisch), Trollinger (Schiava Grossa), Muscat Trollinger (Muscat d'Hamburg), Merlot, Syrah and Black Urban (Schiava Gentile), and 40% with the white wine varieties Riesling, Roter Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer and Cabernet Blanc. Some of these are very old, autochthonous varieties. The environmentally friendly, ecological and sustainable cultivation is carried out according to the guidelines of the Fair Choice association. Only ripe and healthy grapes are processed through selective manual harvesting.
The aim is to produce wines that are typical of their variety through appropriate vinification. The white wines are fermented spontaneously and cooled for aromatic purposes, the red wines go through a mash fermentation. The high-quality red wines are bottled without filtration. The premium wines of the house are Sauvignon blanc "Junges Schwaben" *Fumé blanc*, Spätburgunder "SL" *Großheppacher Steingrüble*, Lemberger "SL" *Großheppacher Wanne*. In years with suitable weather conditions, an ice wine is also pressed. Bottle-fermented sparkling wines, sparkling wines, noble brandies (fruit, marc) and liqueurs are also produced. Every year, 220,000 bottles of wine are produced. The winery is a member of the associations Junges Schwaben, Fair Choice, Slow Food, Pro Riesling, Generation Riesling and Württemberger Weingüter.
