The vineyard on the Guggihügel has been expanded and modernised

There is a small vineyard on the Guggihügel, above the mini-golf course in the heart of the city of Zug, by the Kapuziner tower. Up to now. two grape varieties have been cultivated on the approximately ten-are plot. Another vineyard was planted on the 20th May, directly adjacent to the existing one. 
 

The Weingartenhof Interessengemeinschaft planted the new vineyard right next to the existing vineyard. With a new grape variety and modern cultivation methods, they require fewer pesticides and can operate more efficiently.

"An external company drove iron stakes into the ground, and the plants were then planted and tied," explains Stefan Hegglin. For 15 years, he has been president of the Weingartenhof Interessengemeinschaft (IG: interest group), which has managed the vineyard since 2001,. "About six members of the IG helped with the work throughout the day," he says.

The impetus for this change came from the city of Zug, with its concept for the revitalisation of the Guggihügel area. "Benches have already been installed and trees planted," says Stefan Hegglin. The original plan called for relocating part of the vineyard. "We then suggested moving the entire vineyard, as the sun reaches the new location more effectively." The interest group and the city reached an agreement on this. "As soon as we have the first harvest from the new vines, the old vineyard area will be removed. This is expected to happen in two to three years."

New grape variety and cultivation method
The new vineyard area covers approximately 13 ares, and is therefore slightly larger than the previous one. It has space for 470 vines. The ‘Piwi’ variety Souvignier Gris was planted; Piwi stands for fungus-resistant. "We previously had a variety that was susceptible to powdery mildew. As a result, we had to spray with a fungicide about twelve times a year. We only need to treat the new variety about twice a year," adds Stefan Hegglin.

The cultivation method is also new. The vines were previously cultivated as bush vines, a labour-intensive, traditional method, without wire trellises. "The new vineyard will have a wire-tension system (Drahtzuganlage). This will make the work easier and more efficient; we won't have to bend over as much," explains Stefan Hegglin. This system will be completed in about a month, and the city of Zug will cover the costs.

The vineyard on the Guggihügel in the city of Zug has been expanded and modernised.    
The existing vineyard covers approximately ten ares and contains two grape varieties.      
Photos: Dominik Wunderli

The winemaking is being outsourced
There's also a change in the processing of the grapes. From 2018 on, this process took place in their own cellar in the Zurlaubenhof. There, the wines matured over the winter and were bottled each April. "Thomas Heiner was our cellar master, but he's now retiring. That's why we had to find an external solution," says Stefan Hegglin. Raphael Schacher will now process the grapes from the Guggihügel into wine in Hochdorf.

"We're happy to have found someone who specialises in small batches," he adds. "Our wine cellar in the Zurlaubenhof is temporarily dormant. But we hope to bring it back to life someday, and be able to make our own wine again."

They don't sell the wine
The Weingartenhof Interest Group was founded in 1999, and has 15 active and two passive members today. During the summer, they meet every Tuesday evening at the Guggihügel to work. "The social aspect is very important. After work is done, we often sit together for a long time to talk shop and exchange ideas," says the president. For him, it's the perfect escape: "As soon as I'm in the vineyard, I forget my everyday worries and feel like I'm in another world."

About 300 to 400 bottles of wine are produced each year, and these are intended exclusively for the personal use of the IG members. Stefan Hegglin adds: "We won't be able to enjoy the first wine from the newly planted grapes until 2029 at the earliest."