Location and climate
Karlsruhe is located in the Upper Rhine region, which the city describes as one of the warmest regions in Germany. The city area includes the district of Durlach; there lies the wine-growing area Turmberg above the town. Karlsruhe also records an urban heat island effect.
Turmberg and soils
The Turmberg, around 256 metres high, forms a hill at the transition between the Black Forest uplands and the Kraichgau hilly country. The vineyard slopes face south-west. The landscape is characterised by shell limestone, loess and loess loam; the vineyard soils of the Turmberg are described as mineral-rich calcareous soils.
History and cultivation
Wine growing on the Turmberg has been documented for centuries and was documented in the 8th century under the name Hohenberg. In 1832, Margrave Wilhelm founded a winery in Durlach. From the Durlach grapevine improvement institute, founded in 1903, Staatsweingut Karlsruhe-Durlach emerged in 1993. The documented work includes vine pruning at the beginning of each year, measures to control disease in humid weather and manual harvesting on the steep slopes. The traditional varieties mentioned are Lemberger and Spätburgunder.
Wine profile and classification
The range includes wines made from Riesling, Auxerrois, Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder, Lemberger and Spätburgunder. Dry and delicately sweet white wines are documented, as well as dry rosé, red wines and Secco and Sekt. Sekt is produced using the classic bottle fermentation method. The Turmberg belongs to the quality wine region Baden, the only German wine-growing region in the EU wine-growing zone B.
