Baden

The production area is located in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg in Germany and is divided into southern Baden and northern Baden. It extends almost 400 kilometres from Lake Constance along the Upper Rhine Plain via the Badische Bergstrasse and Kraichgau to Tauberfranken. The vineyards cover an area of 15,828 hectares. To the north is the city of Heidelberg with the oldest German university, founded in 1386. The Baden Wine Route begins to the north of this city and leads to Ortenau in southern Baden. Already in the 2nd century, viticulture spread from Lake Constance to the north. It reached its peak in the 16th century.

Climate and soil

This is the most southern German growing area. Because of its above-average warm climate, Baden is the only one that belongs to wine-growing zone B and thus to the same zone as the French regions 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, clay and loess, shell limestone and keuper

Areas, municipalities and locations

The Baden winegrowing 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 sites. The Badische Bergstrasse area in the north formed the Bergstrasse cultivation area together with the Hessische Bergstrasse until 1971. This smallest area comprises just under 400 hectares of vineyards. Due to the mild climate, it is also known as the "German Riviera". 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, these are vineyards at "only" 150 to 250 meters above sea level. There is only one large vineyard site Rittersberg. Well-known wine-growing communities with their individual sites:

• HeidelbergCastle, badger's back, Dormenacker, Heiligenberg, Herrenberg, sunny side above the Bruck
• Hemsbach: Herrnwingert
• Hohensachsen: Stephansberg
• Laudenbach: Sonnberg
• Glue: Herrenberg, Way of the Cross
• Lützel Saxony: 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 region in Germany. According to a legend, Charles III. (839-888), a great-grandson of Charlemagne (742-814) brought the Pinot Noir to Bodman. Müller-Thurgau was first cultivated on Lake Constance in Germany in the 1920s. The soil is characterised by glacial moraine gravel and molasse (rock deposits). The level of Lake Constance is 396 metres, the vineyards extend to 560 metres above sea level. The extinct volcanic cone Hohentwiel is the highest vineyard in Germany. Because of this altitude, the climate here is relatively cool for bathing. There is only one large area of sunny shores. Well-known winegrowing communities with their individual sites:

• Bermatingen: Leopoldsberg
• Bodman: Royal vineyard
• Erzingen: Kapellenberg
• Gailingen: Ritterhalde, Rheinburg Castle
• Hohentengen: Mount of Olives
• Hohentwiel: Elisabethenberg, Olgaberg
• Kirchberg: Castle hill
• Constance: Solar stockpile
• Markdorf: castle stable, singers' dump
• Meersburg: Bengel, Chorherrenhalde, Fohrenberg, Haltnau, Jungfernstieg, Lerchenberg, Rieschen, Sängerhalde
• Oberuhldingen (Birnau): Church dump
• 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 soil is 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 the three major sites Schutter-Lindenberg, Burg Lichteneck and Burg Zähringen. Well-known winegrowing communities with their individual sites:

• Bombach: Summer dump
• Denzlingen: Eichberg, Sonnhalde
• Ettenheim: Kaiserberg
• FreiburgJesuit castle, Schlossberg, Steinler
• Friesenheim: Kronenbühl
• Glottertal: Eichberg, Roter Bur, Kirchberg
• Tail blades: Castle Hill
• Herbolzheim: Kaiserberg
• Kenzingen: Herrenberg, Hummelberg, Red Mountain
• Köndringen: Old castle
• Lahr: Herrentisch, Kirchgasse, Kronenbühl
• Feud: Bergle
• Malterdingen: Bienenberg (Gewanne Atzlenberg, Grabenberg, Wildenstein)
• Münchweier: Kirchberg
• Mundingen: Old castle
• Nordweil: Herrenberg
• Oberschopfheim: Kronenbühl
• Schmieheim: Kirchberg

The Kaiserstuhl area to 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 weathering and loess soils predominate. Climatically, the Kaiserstuhl is particularly favourable for winegrowing. The southern slopes around Achkarren and Ihringen are the warmest region in Germany. The most common varieties are Spätburgunder with 40%, as well as Müller-Thurgau and Grauburgunder. There is only one large vineyard called Vulkanfelsen. The winegrowing communities with their individual sites:

• Oh carts: Castellberg, Schlossberg
• Amoltern: Stone heap
• Bahlingen: Silver Mountain
• Bickensohl: man's piece, stone rock
• Bischoffingen: Enselberg, Rosary, Steinbuck
• Blankenhornsberg: Doctor's garden
• Bötzingen: Eckberg, Lasenberg
• Buchheim: Rebstuhl
• Breisach: Augustinerberg, Eckartsberg
• Burkheim: fire mountain, castle hill, castle garden
• Oaks: Herrenbuck, Lerchenberg
• Endingen: Engelsberg, stone pit, Tannacker
• Herring: Castellberg, Fohrenberg, Kreuzhalde, Schlossberg, Steinfelsen, Winklerberg
• Jechtingen: Eichert, Enselberg, pews, Hochberg, stone pit
• Kiechlingsbergen: Mount of Olives, Teufelsburg
• Königschaffhausen: Hasenberg, Steingrüble
• Leiselheim: Pews
• Neuershausen: Stone pit
• Nimburg Bottingen: Stone pit
• Oberbergen: bass violin (Gewanne Im Leh and Kähner), Pulverbuck
• Oberrotweil: Eichberg, Henkenberg, Käsleberg, Kirchberg, Schlossberg
• Bolt: St. Michaelsberg
• Sasbach: Limburg, Red Dump
• Chicanery: Kirchberg
• Wasenweiler: Kreuzhalde, Lotberg

The Kraichgau region 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 reflected in the terraces, some of which are very generously curved. In contrast to all other areas, Riesling is at the top here with around 20%, followed by Pinot Noir, Müller-Thurgau and Pinot Gris. The area is divided into the three major sites Hohenberg, Mannaberg and Stiftsberg. Well-known winegrowing communities with their individual sites:

• Bruchsal: Klosterberg, Rothenberg, Weiherberg, Weinhecke
• Durlach: Turmberg
• Eichelberg: Chapel Mountain
• Eichtersheim: Climbing mountain, Sonnenberg
• Heidelsheim: Altenberg
• Kürnbach: Lerchenberg
• Malsch: olive tree, Rotsteig
• Michelfeld: Himmelberg, Sonnenberg
• Odenheim: King's cup
• Estrings: Hummelberg, Rosary Way, Ulrichsberg
• Sulzfeld: Ravensburger Dicker Franz Castle, Ravensburger Hussar Cap, Ravensburger Löchle Castle, Lerchenberg
• Tiefenbach: Bell fountain, Spiegelberg
• Vineyard: Cat mountain, Petersberg
• Zeutern: Heavenly Kingdom

The Markgräflerland area comprises more than 3,000 hectares of vineyards, which extend between Freiburg and Basel. The predominant soil type is loam and loess with partially lime marl. The climate, especially in the north, is rather cool and humid. The most common grape variety with a third of the total is Chasselas (Gutedel), which was brought here from Vevey (Switzerland) around 1780 by the Grand Duke of Baden, Karl Friedrich von Baden (1728-1811). The next varieties are Spätburgunder, Müller-Thurgau and Weißburgunder. The area is divided into the three major sites of Burg Neuenfels, Lorettoberg and Vogtei Rötteln. Well-known winegrowing communities with their individual sites:

• Auggen: Latvian, Sheep
• Badenweiler: Römerberg
• Bad Krozingen: Steingrüble
• Ball rights dots: Altenberg and Castellberg
• Binzen: Sun Cave
• Britzingen: Kaiserberg, Rosenberg, Sonnhole (with cadastral location Muggardter Berg)
• Bring it: Summer Mountain
• Efringen churches: Kirchberg, Mount of Olives, Sonnhohle, Steingässle
• Egringen: Sun Cave
• Ehrenstetten: Mount of Olives, Rosenberg
• Fishing: Vineyard
• Haltingen: Stairs
• Heitersheim: Maltese garden, Sonnhohle
• Hügelheim: Gottesacker, Höllberg, castle garden
• Istein: Kirchberg
• Walking: Altenberg (with cadastral location Muggardter Berg), vineyard
• Lörrach tulle: Sun Fountain
• Mauchen: Frauenberg, piece of sun
• Müllheim: Pfaffenstück, Reggenhag, Sonnhalde
• Ötlingen: Sun cave, staircase
• Pfaffenweiler: Batzenberg, Oberdürrenberg
• Rümmingen: Sun Cave
• Schlatt: Maltese garden, stone pit
• Schliengen: Sun piece
• Staufen/Grunern: Schlossberg
• Weil am Rhein: Climb, stairs

The Ortenau area comprises around 2,700 vineyards from Bermersbach in the south to Baden-Baden in the north. The predominant soil type is heavily weathered granite and porphyry with occasional layers of loess and loess-clay. This provides excellent conditions for the Riesling, which is second only to Pinot Noir before Müller-Thurgau and is called Klingelberger here for historical reasons. There is relatively high rainfall. The area is divided into the two major sites Fürsteneck and Schloss Rodeck. Well-known winegrowing communities with their individual sites:

• Old Swiss: Sternenberg
• Berghaupten: Kinzig valleys, Schützenberg
• Bühlertal: Angel rock, Klotzberg
• Diersburg: Kinzig valleys, Schlossberg
• Durbach: bee garden, Josephsberg, chapel mountain, Kasselberg, Kochberg, olive mountain, Plauelrain, castle mountain (Klingelberg), castle Grohl, castle Staufenberg, Steinberg
• Fessenbach: Bergle, Franzensberger, Kirchherrenberg
• Run: Alde Gott, Gut Alsenhof
• Neuweier: Altenberg, Heiligenstein, Mauerberg, Schlossberg
• Ortenberg: Andreasberg, Franzensberger, Freudental, Schlossberg
• Sinzheim: Frühmeßler, Fremesberg monastery estate Fig grove, Sätzler, Sonnenberg
• Steinbach: Stab the boy
• Detour: Stab the Jack
• 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 region its name. It is, however, only a part of the Tauber valley, which has been divided into three sections in three wine growing areas. The Baden part of Tauberfranken comprises 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 variegated sandstone. There is only one large site called Tauberklinge. Well-known winegrowing communities with their individual sites:

• Beckstein: Kirchberg, Nonnenberg
• Bronnbach: Josefsberg, Kemelrain
• Dertingen: Mandelberg, Sonnenberg
• Height field: Kemelrain
• Königshofen: Kirchberg, Turmberg, Walterstal
• Reicholzheim: First, Kemelrain, Satzenberg
• Saxony corridor: Kailberg, Walterstal
• Tauberbischofsheim: Edelberg
• Werbach: Hirschberg

The Tuniberg area used to form a joint cultivation area with the Kaiserstuhl. The separation was done from a geological point of view, because the soil is not of volcanic origin, but limestone and loess predominate. The vineyards cover an area of 1,000 hectares. The main varieties are Pinot Noir and Müller-Thurgau. There is only one large site called Attilafelsen. The winegrowing communities with their individual sites:

• Gottenheim: Kirchberg
• Quantities: Alemannenbuck
• Merdingen: Bühl
• Munzingen: Kapellenberg
• Niederrimsingen: Red Ground
• Oberrimsingen: Franciscans
• Opfingen: Sun Mountain
• Tiengen: Rebtal
• Waltershofen: Stone wall

List of vine varieties

The fact that with the Spätburgunder a red wine vine is at the top is only found in the growing areas of Ahr and Württemberg. As in the other growing regions, however, the trend towards red wine varieties has declined. Compared to 2009, there were no major changes. Typical are wines from the Burgundy varieties, Baden specialities are Weißherbst, Badisch Rotgold and Baden Selection. The status 2018 (0 = less than 0.5 ha):

Producers

More than three quarters of the vineyard area is processed by the approximately 100 winegrowers' cooperatives. These use the huge Zentralkellerei Badischer Winzerkeller, 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 wine family, Fischer Otto, Baron von Gleichenstein, Baron von und zu Franckenstein, Frey Martin, Frick Bernhard, Müller brothers, Count Wolff Metternich's vineyard, GravinO, 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), Müller Adam, Nägelsförst, Nieger Sven, Pfaffenweiler Weinhaus, Pix Reinhold, Plag Werner, Imperial Count and Marquis zu Hoensbroech, Reinecker Herbert, Rinklin Friedhelm, Salwey, Schätzle Gregor and Thomas, Schätzle Leopold, Schlör Konrad, Ebringen Castle, Istein Castle, Neuweier Castle, Ortenberg Castle, Schneider Claus, Schneider Reinhold, Schlumberger Hartmut, Schweigler Dieter, Seeger Thomas, Staatsweingut Freiburg, Staatsweingut Meersburg, Stigler Andreas, St. Remigius, Trautwein Hans-Peter, Waßmer Fritz, Wassmer Martin, Weber Werner, Wiesler Michael, WG Achkarren, WG Königschaffhausen, Wöhrle Markus, Zähringer Wilhelm, Zeller Abtsberg Winegrower,Ziereisen.

Kaiserstuhl/Obergen: © DWI (German Wine Institute)