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, Burg Ravensburger HusarenkappeRavensburger...
