Baden

The wine-growing region is located in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg in Germany and is divided into South Baden and North Baden. It stretches almost 400 kilometres from Lake Con stance along the Upper Rhine Plain via the Badische Bergstrasse and Kraichgau to Tauberfranken. The vineyards cover 15,828 hectares. To the north lies the city of Heidelberg with Germany's oldest university, founded in 1386. The Baden Wine Route begins north of this city and leads to Ortenau in southern Baden. As early as the 2nd century, winegrowing spread northwards from Lake Constance. It reached its peak in the 16th century.

Climate and soil

This is the southernmost German wine-growing region. Because of its warmer-than-average climate, Baden is the only one that belongs to wine-growing zone B and thus to the same zone as the French regions of Alsace, Savoy and Loire, as well as Austria. The nine areas are quite different in terms of landscape and climate. The highest temperatures are found on the southern slopes of the Kaiserstuhl. The soil types range from gravel, marl and clay to chalk, loam and loess to shell limestone and Keuper.

Areas, communities and sites

The Baden wine-growing region is divided into nine areas: Badische Bergstrasse, Lake Constance, Breisgau, Kaiserstuhl, Kraichgau, Markgräflerland, Ortenau, Tauberfranken and Tuniberg, with 15 large vineyards and 315 individual vineyards. The Badische Bergstrasse area in the north formed the Bergstrasse winegrowing region together with the Hessische Berg strasse until 1971. This smallest area covers just under 400 hectares of vineyards. Due to its mild climate, it is also known as the "Riviera of Germany". The vineyards are concentrated in a few villages north and south of Heidelberg. The predominant soil type is loess loam with red sandstone and shell limestone in the subsoil. Contrary to the name, the vineyards are "only" 150 to 250 metres above sea level. There is only one Großlage Rittersberg. Well-known wine-growing communities with their individual vineyards:

• Heidelberg: Castle, Dachsbuckel, Dormenacker, Heiligenberg, Herrenberg, Sonnenseite ob der Bruck
• Hemsbach: Herrnwingert
• Hohensachsen: Stephansberg
• Laudenbach: Sonnberg
• Leimen: Herrenberg, Way of the Cross
• Lützelsachsen: Stephansberg
• Schriesheim: Kuhberg, Madonnenberg, Schlossberg, Staudenberg
• Weinheim: Herrnwingert, Hubberg, Stephansberg, Wüstberg

The second smallest area with about 600 hectares of vineyards Lake Constance is the southernmost wine-growing area in Germany. According to legend, Charles III. (839-888), a great-grandson of Charlemagne (742-814) brought Pinot Noir to Bodman. At Lake Constance, Müller-Thurgau was cultivated for the first time in Germany in the 1920s. The soils are characterised by glacial moraine gravel and molasse (rock deposits). The Spiegel of Lake Constance lies at 396 metres, the vineyards extend to 560 metres above sea level. The extinct volcanic cone of Hohentwiel is the highest vineyard in Germany. Because of this altitude, the climate here is relatively cool for Baden. There is only one Großlage sunny bank. Well-known wine-growing communities with their individual vineyards:

• Bermatingen: Leopoldsberg
• Bodman: Königsweingarten
• Erzingen: Kapellenberg
• Gailingen: Ritterhalde, Rheinburg Castle
• Hohentengen: Ölberg
• Hohentwiel: Elisabethenberg, Olgaberg
• Kirchberg: Schlossberg
• Constance: Sonnenhalde
• Markdorf: Burgstall, Sängerhalde
• Meersburg: Bengel, Chorherrenhalde, Fohrenberg, Haltnau, Jungfernstieg, Lerchenberg, Rieschen, Sängerhalde
• Oberuhldingen (Birnau): Kirchhalde
• Stetten: Fohrenberg, Lerchenberg, Sängerhalde

The Breisgau area comprises around 1,600 hectares of vineyards along the slopes of the Black Forest from Freiburg in the south to Lahr in the north. However, it should not be confused with the much larger geographical region of Breisgau. The soils are dominated by loess, shell limestone and gneiss. There is higher rainfall. The most common varieties are Pinot Noir, with over 40%, as well as Müller-Thurgau and Pinot Gris. The area is divided into three major vineyards: Schutter-Lindenberg, Burg Lichteneck and Burg Zähringen. Well-known wine-growing communities with their individual vineyards:

• Bombach: Sommerhalde
• Denzlingen: Eichberg, Sonnhalde
• Ettenheim: Kaiserberg
• Freiburg: Jesuit Castle, Castle Hill, Steinler
• Friesenheim: Kronenbühl
• Glottertal: Eichberg, Red Bur, Kirchberg
• Hecklingen: Schlossberg
• Herbolzheim: Kaiserberg
• Kenzingen: Herrenberg, Hummelberg, Roter Berg
• Köndringen: Old castle
• Lahr: Herrentisch, Kirchgasse, Kronenbühl
• Lehen: Bergle
• Malterdingen: Bienenberg (Gewanne Atzlenberg, Grabenberg, Wildenstein)
• Münchweier: Kirchberg
• Mundingen: Old castle
• Nordweil: Herrenberg
• Oberschopfheim: Kronenbühl
• Schmieheim: Kirchberg

The Kaiserstuhl area in the south is by far the largest, with over 4,100 hectares of vineyards. It is named after the extinct volcanic cone of the same name. Accordingly, volcanic weathered but also loess soils predominate. Climatically, the Kaiserstuhl is particularly favourable for viticulture. The warmest region in Germany is found on the southern slopes around Achkarren and Ihringen. The most common varieties are Pinot Noir (40%), as well as Müller-Thurgau and Pinot Gris. There is only one Großlage called Vulkanfelsen. The wine-growing communities with their individual vineyards:

• Achkarren: Castellberg, Schlossberg
• Amoltern: Steinhalde
• Bahlingen: Silberberg
• Bickensohl: Herrenstück, Steinfelsen
• Bischoffingen: Enselberg, Rosenkranz, Steinbuck
• Blankenhornsberg: Doctor's garden
• Bötzingen: Eckberg, Lasenberg
• Buchheim: Rebstuhl
• Breisach: Augustinerberg, Eckartsberg
• Burkheim: Feuerberg, Schlossberg, Schlossgarten
• Eichstetten: Herrenbuck, Lerchenberg
• Endingen: Engelsberg, Steingrube, Tannacker
• Ihringen: Castellberg, Fohrenberg, Kreuzhalde, Schlossberg, Steinfelsen, Winklerberg
• Jechtingen: Eichert, Enselberg, Gestühl, Hochberg, Steingrube
• Kiechlingsbergen: Mount of Olives, Devil's Castle
• Königschaffhausen: Hasenberg, Steingrüble
• Leiselheim: Gestühl
• Neuershausen: Stone pit
• Nimburg-Bottingen: Steingrube
• Oberbergen: Bassgeige (Gewanne Im Leh and Kähner), Pulverbuck
• Oberrotweil: Eichberg, Henkenberg, Käsleberg, Kirchberg, Schlossberg
• Riegel: St. Michaelsberg
• Sasbach: Limburg, Rote Halde
• Schelingen: Kirchberg
• Wasenweiler: Kreuzhalde, Lotberg

The Kraichgau area in the north comprises over 1,200 hectares of vineyards. Until 1996, it formed a common area with the Badische Bergstrasse. The predominant soil type is deep, calcareous loess, which is expressed in the terraces, some of which are very generously curved. In contrast to all other areas, Riesling is in the lead here with around 20%, followed by Pinot Noir, Müller-Thurgau and Pinot Gris. The area is divided into three major vineyards: Hohenberg, Mannaberg and Stiftsberg. Well-known wine-growing communities with their single vineyards:

• Bruchsal: Klosterberg, Rothenberg, Weiherberg, Weinhecke.
• Durlach: Turmberg
• Eichelberg: Kapellenberg
• Eichtersheim: Kletterberg, Sonnenberg
• Heidelsheim: Altenberg
• Kürnbach: Lerchenberg
• Malsch: Ölbaum, Rotsteig
• Michelfeld: Himmelberg, Sonnenberg
• Odenheim: King's cup
• Östringen: Hummelberg, Rosenkranzweg, Ulrichsberg
• Sulzfeld: Ravensburg Castle Dicker Franz, Ravensburg Castle Husarenkappe, Ravensburg Castle Löchle, Lerchenberg
• Tiefenbach: Bell Fountain, Spiegelberg
• Weingarten: Katzenberg, Petersberg
• Zeutern: Himmelreich

The Markgräflerland area comprises over 3,000 hectares of vineyards stretching between Freiburg and Basel. The predominant soil type is loam and loess with some limestone marl. The climate, especially in the north, is rather cool and humid. The most common grape variety, accounting for a third of the total, is Chasselas (Gutedel), which was brought here from Vevey (Switzerland) by the Baden Grand Duke Karl Friedrich von Baden (1728-1811) around 1780. The next varieties are Pinot Noir, Müller-Thurgau and Pinot Blanc. The area is divided into three major vineyards: Burg Neuenfels, Lorettoberg and Vogtei Rötteln. Well-known wine-growing communities with their single vineyards:

• Auggen: Letten, Schäf
• Badenweiler: Römerberg
• Bad Krozingen: Steingrüble
• Ballrechten-Dottingen: Altenberg and Castellberg
• Binzen: Sonnhohle
• Britzingen: Kaiserberg, Rosenberg, Sonnhole (with cadastral site Muggardter Berg).
• Ebringen: Sommerberg
• Efringen-Kirchen: Kirchberg, Ölberg, Sonnhohle, Steingässle
• Egringen: Sonnhohle
• Ehrenstetten: Ölberg, Rosenberg
• Feuerbach: Steingässle
• Fischingen: Weingarten
• Gennenbach: Paradise
• Haltingen: Stiege
• Heitersheim: Malteser garden, Sonnhohle
• Hügelheim: Gottesacker, Höllberg, castle garden
• Istein: Church hill
• Laufen: Altenberg (with cadastral site Muggardter Berg), Weingarten
• Lörrach-Tüllingen: Sonnenbrunnen
• Mauchen: Frauenberg, Sonnenstück
• Müllheim: Pfaffenstück, Reggenhag, Sonnhalde
• Obereggenen: Sonnenstück
• Ötlingen: Sonnhohle, Stiege
• Pfaffenweiler: Batzenberg, Oberdürrenberg
• Rümmingen: Sonnhohle
• Schlatt: Maltesergarten, Steingrüble
• Schliengen: Sonnenstück
• Staufen/Grunern: Schlossberg
• Weil am Rhein: Schlipf, Stiege

The Ortenau area covers about 2,700 vineyards from Bermersbach in the south to Baden-Baden in the north. The predominant soil type is highly weathered granite and porphyry with occasional loess and loess-loam layers. This provides excellent conditions for Riesling, which is second only to Pinot Noir and ahead of Müller-Thurgau, and is called Klingelberger here for historical reasons. There is relatively high rainfall. The area is divided into two large vineyards, Fürsteneck and Schloss Rodeck. Well-known wine-growing communities with their single vineyards:

• Altschweier: Sternenberg
• Berghaupten: Kinzigtäler, Schützenberg
• Bühlertal: Engelsfelsen, Klotzberg
• Diersburg: Kinzigtäler, Schlossberg
• Durbach: Bienengarten, Josephsberg, Kapellenberg, Kasselberg, Kochberg, Ölberg, Plauelrain, Schlossberg (Klingelberg), Schloss Grohl, Schloss Staufenberg, Steinberg
• Fessenbach: Bergle, Franzensberger, Kirchherrenberg
• Lauf: Alde Gott, Alsenhof Estate
• Neuweier: Altenberg, Heiligenstein, Mauerberg, Schlossberg
• Ortenberg: Andreasberg, Franzensberger, Freudental, Schlossberg
• Sinzheim: Frühmeßler, Fremesberger Feigenwäldchen Monastery Estate, Sätzler, Sonnenberg
• Steinbach: Stich den Buben
• Diversions: Stich den Buben
• Varnhalt: Klosterbergfelsen, Sonnenberg, Steingrübler
• Waldulm: Kreuzberg, Pfarrberg
• Zell-Weierbach: Abtsberg, Neugesetz

The Tauberfranken area comprises the vineyards between Bad Mergentheim-Dainbach and Wertheim-Dertingen along the Tauber river, which gives the area its name. However, it is only a part of the Tauber valley, which has been divided into three sections in three wine-growing areas according to wine law. The Baden part of Tauberfranken covers 670 hectares of vineyards. The most common varieties here are Müller-Thurgau and Schwarzriesling. The predominant soil type is shell limestone with loamy fine soils, as well as Keuper and red sandstone. There is only one Großlage called Tauberklinge. Well-known wine-growing communities with their individual vineyards:

• Beckstein: Kirchberg, Nonnenberg
• Bronnbach: Josefsberg, Kemelrain
• Dertingen: Mandelberg, Sonnenberg
• Höhefeld: Kemelrain
• Königshofen: Kirchberg, Turmberg, Walterstal
• Reicholzheim: Ridge, Kemelrain, Satzenberg
• Sachsenflur: Kailberg, Walterstal
• Tauberbischofsheim: Edelberg
• Werbach: Hirschberg

The Tuniberg area used to form a common cultivation area with the Kaiserstuhl. The separation was due to geological reasons, as the soil is not of volcanic origin, but limestone and loess predominate. The vineyards cover 1,000 hectares of vines. The most important varieties are Pinot Noir and Müller-Thurgau. There is only one Großlage called Attilafelsen. The wine-growing communities with their individual vineyards:

• Gottenheim: Kirchberg
• Mengen: Alemannenbuck
• Merdingen: Bühl
• Munzingen: Kapellenberg
• Niederrimsingen: Rotgrund
• Oberrimsingen: Franziskaner
• Opfingen: Sonnenberg
• Tiengen: Rebtal
• Waltershofen: Stone wall

List of grape varieties

The fact that with Pinot Noir a red wine grape is at the top of the list can only be found in the growing regions of Ahr and Württemberg. As in the other growing regions, however, the trend towards red wine varieties has been declining. There were no serious changes compared to 2009. Wines from the Burgundy varieties are typical, Baden specialities are Weißherbst, Badisch Rotgold and Baden Selection. The status in 2018 (0 = smaller than 0.5 ha):

Producers

More than three quarters of the vineyard area is processed by the approximately 100 winegrowers' cooperatives. They make use of the huge central winery Badischer Winzerkeller, which was founded in 1952. Well-known producers are Aufricht Robert & Manfred, Augit, Axel Bauer, Badischer Winzerkeller, Bercher, Bercher-Schmidt, BiAn, Bickensohler, Blankenhorn, Brenneisen Dirk, Burg Ravensburg, Burkheimer Winzer am Kaiserstuhl, Dörflinger, Clauer Jörg, Dr. Heger, Duijn, Durbacher Winzergenossenschaft, Enderle & Moll, Fendt Weinfamilie, Fischer Otto, Freiherr von Gleichenstein, Freiherr von und zu Franckenstein, Frey Martin, Frick Bernhard, Gebrüder Müller, Gräflich Wolff Metternich'sches Weingut, GravinO, Greiner Maximilian, Heitlinger, Helde Norbert, Hofgut Consequence, Holub Horst, Huber Bernhard, Hummel Bernd, Hunn Kilian, Jägle Bernhard, Johner Karl-Heinz, Kalkbödele, Karle Gerhard, Keller Franz, Kiefer Friedrich, Klumpp Ulrich, Knab, Köbelin Arndt, Kopp Johannes, Laible Andreas, Lämmlin-Schindler, Landmann Jürgen, Männle Andreas, Männle Heinrich, Marget Klaus-Martin, Margrave of Baden (Salem, Staufenberg), Marković, Müller Adam, Nägelsförst, Nieger Sven, Pfaffenweiler Weinhaus, Pix Reinhold, Plag Werner, Reichsgraf und Marquis zu Hoensbroech, Reinecker Herbert, Rinklin Friedhelm, Salwey, Schätzle Gregor and Thomas, Schätzle Leopold, Schlör Konrad, Schlossgut Ebringen, Schlossgut Istein, Schloss Neuweier, Schloss Ortenberg, Schneider Claus, Schneider Reinhold, Schlumberger Hartmut, Schweigler Dieter, Seeger Thomas, Staatsweingut Freiburg, Staatsweingut Meersburg, Stigler Andreas, St. Remigius, Trautwein Hans-Peter, Wagner Peter, Waßmer Fritz, Wassmer Martin, Weber Werner, Wiesler Michael, WG Achkarren, WG Königschaffhausen, Wöhrle Markus, Zähringer Wilhelm, Zeller Abtsberg Winzer, Ziereisen.

Kaiserstuhl/Oberbergen: © DWI (German Wine Institute)