This refers to the planned establishment of a vineyard with the planting of vines in compliance with all laws and observance of all criteria with the necessary measures. Wine may only be produced from grapes grown on authorised vineyards that have been defined as suitable for viticulture:

• Planting of grafted or ungrafted (ungrafted) vines or parts thereof for the purpose of producing grapes or establishing a stock of mother vines for the production of rootstocks
• replanting - planting of vines that does not meet the definition of replanting
• Grubbing up - complete removal of the vines; no replanting right for the planting of wine grape varieties arises after the grubbing up of a rootstock pruning garden
• Replanting - of uprooted vineyards; is regulated in an EU regulation in the planting right

New planting, replanting and grubbing up must be reported to and authorised by the competent state authority in compliance with all legal requirements of the EU and, where applicable, the federal states.

Suitability for viticulture

Certain criteria must be met as an absolute prerequisite for the authorisation of a new area not previously used for viticulture. In addition to compliance with the relevant EU regulations, this primarily concerns the climatic conditions. At the time of colonisation, so-called homoclimates (areas with very similar conditions) were sought in the New World, especially French wine-growing areas. However, the suitability of the soil also plays a decisive role. See in this regard under wine-growing suitability.

Soil analysis

Soil analysis is used to determine the soil quality (creditworthiness) with regard to its suitability for agricultural use. Particularly when planting new vines for the first time, the soil must first be analysed in a laboratory using the EUF method (electro-ultrafiltration) to determine the nutrients available to plants. This allows all the main nutrients and trace elements including nitrogen (in the form of ammonium and nitrate, as well as organically bound nitrogen) to be analysed. The Nmin method can be used to determine the mineral nitrogen content. The results of these analyses serve as a basis for any necessary fertilisation.

Grape varieties

Depending on the results of the analyses, the selection of the most suitable grape varieties in terms of climate and soil type is of paramount importance. Each grape variety has its own specific...