Location and climate
Auggen is a winegrowing municipality in the Markgräflerland in southern Baden. The municipality is located at the foot of the southern Black Forest highlands in the Upper Rhine region near the border area between Germany, France and Switzerland. It lies at the transition between the natural regions Markgräfler Rheineine plain and Markgräfler hill country.
The study area is at an altitude of about 264 metres. The average annual temperature is 10.3 °C, and the average annual precipitation is 907 millimetres. The region is considered one of the sunniest in Germany; at the same time, summertime heat stress and inversion conditions are described.
Vineyard sites and soils
The vineyard sites of Auggen include Schäf and Letten. Letten is documented as a south-facing steep slope and is particularly associated with full-bodied Spätburgunder wines. In Schäf there are calcareous slate soils. In the study area, holocene slope alluvial sediments with calcareous colluvium are also identified.
Schäf and Letten are located in a water protection area. According to information from the local winegrowers’ cooperative, the guidelines of the state of Baden-Württemberg apply for environmentally friendly viticulture. To avoid the use of insecticides, the confusion method using pheromones is also used.
Grape varieties and wine styles
Gutedel is the most important regional grape variety and, according to the local winegrowers’ cooperative, makes up nearly half of its vineyard area in Auggen and Laufen. The current range also includes traditional Baden white and red Burgunder varieties such as Weißburgunder, Chardonnay and Spätburgunder as well as Regent. Gutedel from Auggen is described as a fresh white wine style.
Wines from different named sites are grown separately according to the special requirements of the respective location. Auggen belongs to the legally defined German quality winegrowing region Baden.
History of winegrowing
Auggen was first mentioned in writing in 752. A municipal description from 1966 recorded at that time around 150 hectares of vineyard area and described winegrowing as the municipality’s most important specialised agricultural activity.
