Baden is a region (Anbaugebiet) for qualitywine in Germany,[1] and is located in the historical region ofBaden in southwesternGermany, which today forms part of the federal state ofBaden-Württemberg. Under German wine legislation, Baden andWürttemberg are separate wine regions.
With 15,906 hectares (39,300 acres) under vine in 2008, Baden is Germany's third largest wine region,[2] but seems to be much less known on export markets in comparison to many smaller German regions, and in comparison to the neighbouringFrench region ofAlsace, which is of similar size. Winemaking cooperatives are very common in Baden, number around 100, and are responsible for 85% of the region's production.[3]
Although this wine region has a long history of winemaking neither the colour nor quality of the earliest wines is now known. In theKraichgau the high noble Counts ofKatzenelnbogen received their title and were famous for supporting viticulture since the 12th century. Later they showed up in the history of wine again when they planted Riesling for the first time inRüsselsheim.[4]
Baden is Germany's longest wine region, approximately 400 km (250miles) and reaching from the border ofFranken in the north toLake Constance in the south, and is primarily situated on the eastern bank of riverRhine.Much of Baden is situated in theRhine rift, which is protected by theBlack Forest and theVosges mountains to the west of Rhine, and is therefore Germany's warmest location.[1] Therefore, its wines are usually more full-bodied and higher in alcohol than wines from other German regions, and it is the only German wine region situated inEuropean Union wine growing zone B rather than A.[5] Alsace is in France on the other side of Rhine from Baden.
Due to its very large north-south length, Baden is divided into nine districts (Bereiche), which is more than any other German wine region.[6] From north to south, these districts are:[7]
Grape varieties of thePinot family are responsible for almost 55% of the vineyards of Baden, withSpätburgunder (Pinot noir) covering 36.8% of Baden's vineyards in 2008 or 5,855 hectares (14,470 acres),Grauburgunder (Pinot gris) 10.5% andWeißburgunder (Pinot blanc) 7.3%.[2] Baden thus has larger total plantations of these three Pinot varieties than any other German wine region. Correspondingly,Riesling (7.3% in 2008) plays a smaller role than in most other regions, although it is more common around some villages.Müller-Thurgau is grown on 17.2% of Baden's vineyards, and plantings have decreased considerably in recent years to be replaced by Spätburgunder and other red grape varieties.Gutedel (Chasselas) is also grown on 6.9% of the vineyard surface, making Baden practically the only region in Germany where Gutedel wines are produced, and the region accounts for over 97% of Germany's plantings of this variety. In total, there are 44% red grape varieties in Baden, and 56% white.
The most cultivated grape varieties, by area in 2008, were:[8]
|
|
| Classification | |
|---|---|
| Regions | |
| Related | |
