Weingut Aldinger

1492 - a big year for Aldinger as well

The year is 1492. While Columbus is just discovering America, the Aldinger winery is founded in the little village of Fellbach not far from the city of Stuttgart. Today, little remains as a reminder of these far-reaching roots, probably also because the Thirty Years’ War ravaged this region less than 150 years later, and Fellbach lost more than half of its inhabitants. Back then it was Bentz der Aldinger who, as the first generation, launched the winery.

Aldinger Winery Fellbach

Bentz der Aldinger makes the start

But neither war nor plague could wipe the Aldingers from the face of the earth, so that Gerhard Aldinger, born in 1930, took over the helm of the winery as the 14th generation of the Aldingers. The GA in the winery logo, which has been retained to this day, also comes from him. His son Gert finally brought the Aldinger winery to the top of Württemberg, and even of Germany, from 1992 onwards.

The 16th generation of the Aldingers takes over

Today the Fellbach Aldinger winery is run by Gert’s sons Hansjörg and Matthias, although father Gert is of course still on board. Hansjörg is responsible for management, while Matthias Aldinger acts as cellar master. In total, the Aldinger winery now cultivates 27 hectares of vineyard area east of Stuttgart, stretching from Bad Cannstatt via Fellbach and Rotenberg to Hanweiler in the northeast.

The Aldinger sites in Württemberg

The Aldinger family cultivates almost 50/50 white and red grape varieties. Almost one third is Riesling, 13% Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder), 11% Trollinger and 13% Lemberger. Smaller quantities are accounted for by Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Meunier (Schwarzriesling). On the white side of the varietal spectrum, Aldinger has around 5% Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Blanc (Weißburgunder) in the vineyards.

Hansjoerg and Matthias Aldinger

These grape varieties are grown in the finest Württemberg vineyard sites

Untertürkheimer Gips
Hanweiler Berg
Fellbacher Lämmler
Fellbacher Goldberg
Rotenberger Schlossberg
Stettener Mönchberg
Stettener Pulvermächer
Uhlbacher Götzenberg

Vinification at Aldinger

As a rule, the white wines at the Aldinger winery in Fellbach are slowly fermented at a cool 12°C - 14°C. Fermentation is mostly spontaneous using the vineyard’s own yeasts. The Aldinger red wines are fermented on the skins for up to 20 days. This is followed by malolactic conversion, and depending on quality and classification the red wines are matured in stainless steel tanks, large wooden casks or barriques made of French oak.