Location and Climate
Staufen im Breisgau is located in Baden at about 7°43′58″ and 284 metres above the railway station. The town describes its surrounding area as being climatically favoured and as one of the warmest regions in Germany. The municipality includes the wine-growing areas of Grunern and Wettelbrunn.
The Schlossberg
To the north of the historic town centre, the prominent, free-standing Schlossberg rises. Its vineyard slopes, oriented to the south and south-west, are particularly steep. The plots are terraced and are often bounded by walls; some areas show a gradient of up to 27 per cent. On parts of the south slope, there is Middle Jurassic claystone, while on the north slope there is tertiary marl.
Viticulture and History
For Grunern, the single vineyards Altenberg and Schloßberg are documented in vineyard maps. The Schlossberg is divided into small parcels and, because of its terraced structure, is labour-intensive to cultivate. A land consolidation project that began in 1990 was intended to make farming easier while at the same time preserving the historic appearance with its existing walls.
Viticulture in Staufen has been documented since 773, and on the Schlossberg at least since the 17th century. Documented there, among other things, are Grauburgunder and Spätburgunder as well as Gutedel and Müller-Thurgau. The Schlossberg is protected as a listed monument together with the castle ruins area; the further hill is protected as a landscape conservation area.
