Summary
Weingut Jürgen Ellwanger in Winterbach is one of the defining addresses of the Remstal and thus of Württemberg. The family has been growing vines here since 1514; the current estate was founded by Gottlob Ellwanger in 1949. Under Jürgen Ellwanger it became a pioneering estate: in 1986 he co-founded the barrique group HADES, and in 1995 it was admitted to the VDP. Today Jörg and Sylvia Ellwanger run the estate together with Felix Ellwanger in the fourth and fifth generations. Around two thirds of the roughly 25 hectares produce red wine – above all Lemberger, Trollinger and Zweigelt, for which the house is considered a pioneer in Germany – with Riesling as the most important white variety.
History
The Ellwanger family's roots in winegrowing go back to 1514. For centuries, wine in the Remstal was part of mixed farming. The foundation of today's estate was laid by Gottlob Ellwanger in 1949 in Winterbach.
The estate took on its defining shape under Jürgen Ellwanger, after whom it is still named. He steadily expanded the vineyard area and consistently focused the estate on quality. In 1986 he founded the HADES working group together with four fellow winemakers – the name is made up of the founders' initials. The group was dedicated to ageing wine in new, small oak barrels and is seen as having paved the way for barrique ageing in Württemberg.
In 1995 the estate was admitted to the Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates (VDP) – one of the first in the region. Today Jörg and Sylvia Ellwanger run the estate together with Felix Ellwanger in the fourth and fifth generations.
Worth noting: the Remstal is also home to Weingut Bernhard Ellwanger in Großheppach, a second, independent estate with the same family name. The two are not the same winery.
Location & Terroir
Winterbach lies in the middle Remstal, east of Stuttgart. The vineyards run along the south-facing slopes above the river Rems, sheltered by the Schurwald ridge. The estate's vineyards are spread across several villages – besides Winterbach, these include Schnait, Hebsack, Beutelsbach, Geradstetten and Schorndorf.
The defining soils are Keuper and Keuper marl; according to wine guides, some parcels also contain shell limestone (Muschelkalk). In the Schnaiter Altenberg the vines grow at roughly 320 to 380 metres. This combination of cooler elevated sites, the good heat retention of Keuper soils and a long growing season produces red wines with freshness and structure as well as taut, spicy Rieslings.
Style & Philosophy
The house credo is that wine quality is created in the vineyard. The estate relies on near-natural vineyard management and low yields – according to the estate, quantities are cut by more than half in some sites. In the cellar the principle is to intervene as little as possible so that variety and site remain recognisable in the glass.
With around 65 % red wine, Ellwanger is a red wine estate through and through. Lemberger – internationally known as Blaufränkisch – is at the centre, alongside the Württemberg classic Trollinger. Zweigelt plays a special role: the estate planted the Austrian variety more than 30 years ago and is regarded as one of its pioneers in Germany. The top reds mature in barrique and are released under the HADES label. On the white side Riesling dominates, complemented by Pinot Blanc (Weißburgunder) and Chardonnay.
Notable Sites & Wines
The range follows the VDP pyramid from estate wines through village wines to single-site wines. According to the VDP, the estate's Grosse Lagen include:
- Schnaiter Altenberg – source of the Riesling Grosses Gewächs
- Hebsacker Linnenbrunnen – known for Spätburgunder Grosses Gewächs
- Winterbacher Hungerberg – including a Weißburgunder from the Grosse Lage
- Beutelsbacher Burghalde
Among its Erste Lagen the VDP lists Hebsacker Lichtenberg, Geradstettener Lichtenberg, Schorndorfer Grafenberg, Beutelsbacher Altenberg and Schnaiter Sonnenberg. The best-known wines include the Lemberger Grosses Gewächs, the barrique-aged Zweigelt HADES and the Rieslings from the Altenberg.
Awards
Weingut Jürgen Ellwanger has been listed for years in the leading German wine guides, including Gault&Millau, Eichelmann and Falstaff. According to the estate, it received a rating of 4.5 grapes in the Gault&Millau 2025. Even more significant than individual scores is its pioneering contribution: with HADES and its early Zweigelt plantings, the house helped shape the development of modern red wine in Württemberg.
