Location and Climate
The vineyards of Bühl are located in the Ortenau-Bühler foothills, at the transition between the Black Forest and the Upper Rhine Plain. The local sites include, among others, Betschgräbler in Eisental, Sternenberg in Altschweier, Wolfhag, and Burg Windeck Kastanienhalde. The slopes have strong sunshine exposure, predominantly with a southerly or south-westerly aspect, and are sheltered by the pre-Black Forest hills. In the climatically sensitive foothill zone near Bühl-Altschweier, cold air drainage and air exchange between the Black Forest and the Rhine plain also play a role.
Sites and Soils
The Bühl winegrowing area also includes steep slopes; for Wolfhag, steep vineyard parcels are described. Burg Windeck lies on a spur located to the south-east of Bühl at about 380 metres above sea level and provides the geographical point of reference for the site Burg Windeck Kastanienhalde. Granitic weathering soils and loess soils occur in the area. The regional Bühl valley granite consists mainly of feldspar, quartz and mica. The Betschgräbler in Eisental is characterised by deep, fertile loess loam soils, while for Wolfhag weathered bunter sandstone is documented.
Grape Varieties and Wine Styles
Riesling and Spätburgunder are the most important grape varieties in the Affental winegrowing area around Bühl. At Wolfhag, Rivaner, Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder, Johanniter, Solaris, Regent and Cabernet are also grown. The Eisentaler Betschgräbler is above all designated as a Riesling site; the Rieslings produced there are described as fruity. A Riesling from Altschweier’s Sternenberg is considered mineral and filigree. For Wolfhag, wines are associated with a fine fruit bouquet.
Winegrowing and Classification
Bühl belongs to the Badish Qualitätsweinbau area and is assigned to the Ortenau winegrowing region. Baden is Germany’s only winegrowing region in the EU Wine Zone B, which is why higher minimum must weights apply there than in many other German growing areas. For Wolfhag, environmentally friendly cultivation, hand-harvesting and gentle cellar processing are documented. The Qualitätsprogramm “Selektion Leo Klär” includes strict requirements in the vineyard and yield regulation to 45 litres per acre (Ar). The predecessor organisation of Affentaler Winzer eG was founded in 1908; further winegrowers’ cooperatives in Eisental and Altschweier were established in 1937 and 1949 respectively.
