The "Markgraf von Baden" winery has its headquarters in the municipality of Salem (Lake Constance area) in the German wine-growing region of
Baden. The dynasty of the House of Baden gave its name to the growing region. The family played a major role in shaping Baden's wine culture. Margrave Christoph I of Baden (1453-1527) was responsible for the first wine law in Baden in 1494. Grand Duke Carl Friedrich of Baden (1728-1811) is considered the creator of Baden's quality viticulture. In 1782, he had 3,700 Riesling vines planted in Klingelberg (Durbach) for the first time. The variety proved to be excellent and was subsequently planted in many Baden communities under the name
Klingelberger, which is still in use today. The first plantings of Gewürztraminer and Clevner (Traminer) can also be traced back to the innovative Grand Duke. In 1925, the Margrave was the first winery in Germany to plant Müller-Thurgau. The Margrave had also abolished serfdom in Baden, introduced compulsory education and rendered outstanding services to research in viticulture and the training of young winegrowers.
Since 1998, the eldest son of Margrave Max von Baden, SKH Bernhard Prinz von Baden, has continued the winegrowing tradition. In addition to viticulture, agriculture/forestry, fish farming and monument preservation are also business areas of the Margravial Head Office. The Margrave of Baden Winery cultivates a total of 135 hectares of vineyards in the Baden growing region in the Lake Constance and Ortenau areas on two sites. The managing director is SGH Michael Prinz von Baden. Volker Faust is on site in Salem and is responsible for the winery as general manager, while Achim Kirchner is the direct contact person in Staufenberg. Martin Kölble acts as cellar master. The winery has been a member of the
VDP (Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates) since January 2012
The former Salem monastery with its extensive vineyards came into the possession of the house in 1802. The vineyards of
Schloss Salem (Lake Constance area) cover 110 hectares in the single vineyard sites Chorherrenhalde (Meersburg), Kirchhalde (Birnau), Leopoldsberg (Bermatingen), Sängerhalde (Markdorf) and Schlossberg (Kirchberg), as well as nine hectares in the monopoly single vineyard site
Schloss Rheinburg (Gailingen). The red wine variety Pinot Noir is cultivated, as well as the white varieties Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Müller-Thurgau, Bacchus, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The wines are produced in the three lines "Gutsweine Markgraf von Baden", "Lagenweine" and "Fidelitas". Bottle-fermented sparkling wines and noble brandies (wine, fruit) are also produced
Schloss Staufenberg, which has been owned by the house since 1693, is located in the municipality of Durbach (Ortenau area). The vineyards cover 25 hectares of vines in the single vineyard
Schlossberg (Durbach). The Schloss Staufenberg vineyard, which is mentioned in some sources as an independent vineyard, is only an alias for Schlossberg. The two varieties Klingelberger-Riesling (45%) and Blauer Spätburgunder (30%) are mainly cultivated. Others are Clevner (local name for Traminer), Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. During fermentation, autochthonous
yeasts selected from the Klingelberg are used. All Pinot Noir red wines come into contact with wooden barrels. The absolute top Pinot Noirs are fermented exclusively in wooden cuves and then mature in new barriques
