The Champagne baking pear may well be an old Württemberger variety. It originated from an accidental seedling, as do almost all old fruit species. In Duke Carl Eugen’s tree nursery, the Champagne baking pear was propagated in large numbers due to its high local importance so that it could be distributed by the agricultural patron throughout the whole of the state of Württemberg. According to Lucas, around 1850 it was commonly found on the Filder elevated plain near Stuttgart, in the Neckar and Rems valleys and in many regions of the state. The tree established itself at medium altitudes from 300 to 450 m above sea level, especially in conditions favourable to creating microclimates on warmer soils. Today we find the trees in particular in certain regions along the Albtrauf, the northwestern border of the Swabian Alb mountain range.

Schlat, with its favourable position for fruit cultivation, has preserved a vital crop thanks to the attachment of the local people to their Champagne baking-pear trees and to the knowledge of its fruit growers.

The main crop in Schlat is now between 90 and 120 years old, with a small part in the middle age range at 30 years old and newly planted trees from the last five years that still have some growing ahead of them before they begin to deliver any significant yield after 20 years of cultivation. A high-standing tree first completes its natural growth spurt and only then starts to bear fruit. This is an example of a tree really being planted and cultivated for the next generation, where long-term management is required.

Our traditional orchards in the area around the Albvorland, located below the Albtrauf, are the largest area of biodiversity north of the Alps. The outstanding range of species there is important for all the ecosystems in central Europe. With more than 5000 animal and plant species, not counting fungi, lichens and mosses, this is unique in the area north of the Alps. The dominant species of birds found in the traditional orchard include the little owl, wryneck, woodchat shrike, green woodpecker and collared flycatcher. The traditional orchard is therefore of the highest importance for the biodiversity of central Europe, comparable with the standard olive, cork and Holm oak tree forests of southern Europe.

In 2007 the traditional orchards of the Albtrauf were declared an EU bird sanctuary.

At the Albtrauf, there is a unique natural harvest on well-tended traditional orchards of old fruit varieties growing on high-standing trees that produce fruits of particular taste and quality.

In our fruit workshop, we collect and cultivate these rare varieties individually and get the best out of them, always respecting the traditional usage, with the best knowledge of winegrowing and always driven by those so very “Swabian” virtues of passion and perfection. Let yourself be seduced by stimulating and simple companions and the aromas of our natural surroundings in hand-crafted perfection!