Baden

The 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 Constance along the Upper Rhine Plain via the Badische Bergstrasse and Kraichgau to Tauberfranken. The vineyards cover 15,828 hectares of vines. 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. Viticulture spread northwards from Lake Constance as early as the 2nd century. It reached its peak in the 16th century.

Climate and soil

This is the southernmost German wine-growing region. Due to 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, municipalities and sites

The Baden wine-growing region is divided into nine areas: Badische Bergstrasse, Bodensee, Breisgau, Kaiserstuhl, Kraichgau, Markgräflerland, Ortenau, Tauberfranken and Tuniberg with 15 large vineyards and 315 individual vineyards. The Badische Bergstrasse area in the north, together with the Hessische Bergstrasse, formed the Bergstrasse wine-growing region 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 to the 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 sites:

• HeidelbergBurg, Dachsbuckel, Dormenacker, Heiligenberg, Herrenberg, Sonnenseite ob der Bruck
• Hemsbach: Herrnwingert
• Hohensachsen: Stephansberg
• Laudenbach: Sonnberg
• Leimen: Herrenberg, Kreuzweg
• Lützelsachsen: Stephansberg
• Schriesheim: Kuhberg, Madonnenberg, Schlossberg, Staudenberg
• Weinheim: Herrnwingert, Hubberg, Stephansberg, Wüstberg

The second smallest area with around 600 hectares of vineyards Lake Constance is the southernmost wine-growing region in Germany. According to legend, Charles III (839-888), a great-grandson of Charlemagne (742-814), brought Pinot Noir to Bodman. Müller-Thurgau was first cultivated on Lake Constance 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 up to 560 metres above sea level. The extinct volcanic cone Hohentwiel is the highest vineyard in Germany. Due to 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 large vineyards: Schutter-Lindenberg, Burg Lichteneck and Burg Zähringen. Well-known wine-growing communities with their individual vineyards:

• Bombach: Sommerhalde
• Denzlingen: Eichberg, Sonnhalde
• Ettenheim: Kaiserberg
• FreiburgJesuitenschloss, Schlossberg, Steinler
• Friesenheim: Kronenbühl
• Glottertal: Eichberg, Roter Bur, Kirchberg
• Hecklingen: Schlossberg
• Herbolzheim: Kaiserberg
• Kenzingen: Herrenberg, Hummelberg, Roter Berg
• Köndringen: Old castle
• Lahr: Herrentisch, Kirchgasse, Kronenbühl
• Lehen: Bergle
• Malterdingen: Bienenberg (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 weathering and loess soils predominate. The Kaiserstuhl has a particularly favourable climate for viticulture. The southern slopes around Achkarren and Ihringen are the warmest region in Germany. The most common varieties are Pinot Noir (40%), Müller-Thurgau and Pinot Gris. There is only one Großlage called Vulkanfelsen. The wine-growing communities with their individual sites:

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

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

• Bruchsal: Klosterberg, Rothenberg, Weiherberg, Weinhecke
• Durlach: Turmberg
• Eichelberg: Kapellenberg
• Eichtersheim: Kletterberg, Sonnenberg
• Heidelsheim: Altenberg
• Kürnbach: Lerchenberg
• Malsch: Ölbaum, Rotsteig
• Michelfeld: Himmelberg, Sonnenberg
• Odenheim: Königsbecher
• Östringen: Hummelberg, Rosenkranzweg, Ulrichsberg
• Sulzfeld: Ravensburger Dicker Franz Castle, Ravensburger Husarenkappe Castle, Ravensburger Löchle Castle, Lerchenberg
• Tiefenbach: Schellenbrunnen, Spiegelberg
• Weingarten: Katzenberg, Petersberg
• Zeutern: Himmelreich

The Markgräflerland region 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) around 1780 by the Grand Duke of Baden, Karl Friedrich von Baden (1728-1811). The next varieties are Pinot Noir, Müller-Thurgau and Pinot Blanc. The area is divided into three large vineyards: Burg Neuenfels, Lorettoberg and Vogtei Rötteln. Well-known wine-growing communities with their individual 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: Maltese garden, Sonnhohle
• Hügelheim: Gottesacker, Höllberg, castle garden
• Istein: Kirchberg
• 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 region 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 loess and loess-loam layers. This provides excellent conditions for the 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 individual 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 B uben
• Diversions: Stich den Buben
• Varnhalt: Klosterbergfelsen, Sonnenberg, Steingrübler
• Waldulm: Kreuzberg, Pfarrberg
• Zell-Weierbach: Abtsberg, Neugesetz

The Tauberfranken area includes the vineyards between Bad Mergentheim-Dainbach and Wertheim-Dertingen along the eponymous Tauber river. However, it is only part of the Tauber Valley, which has been divided into three sections in three wine-growing regions under 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: First, Kemelrain, Satzenberg
• Sachsenflur: Kailberg, Walterstal
• Tauberbischofsheim: Edelberg
• Werbach: Hirschberg

The Tuniberg area used to form a joint cultivation area with the Kaiserstuhl. The separation was due to geological reasons, as the soil is not of volcanic origin, but is dominated by limestone and loess. 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 sites:

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

Grape variety index

Only the Ahr and Württemberg wine-growing regions still have a red wine grape variety in the lead - Pinot Noir. As in the other wine-growing regions, however, the trend towards red wine varieties has been declining. There were no major changes compared to 2009. Typical wines are from the Pinot 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 around 100 winegrowers' cooperatives. They use the huge central winery Badischer Winzerkeller, founded in 1952. Well-known producers include 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, Holger Koch, 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, Krebs Maximilian, 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)