Location in the Snail Valley
Pfaffenweiler is a municipality in the Baden-Württemberg district of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, about ten kilometres south of Freiburg im Breisgau. The settlement lies in the Schneckental valley between the Batzenberg to the west and the eastern vineyard slopes of the Oberdürrenberg to the east.
Batzenberg and Soils
The Batzenberg, oriented from south-west to north-east, is about four kilometres long, up to 1.2 kilometres wide and reaches heights of up to 326 metres above sea level. Its slopes around Pfaffenweiler and neighbouring municipalities are used almost entirely for viticulture. Characteristic are calcareous loam and marl soils. Above Pfaffenweiler, historical limestone quarries are documented; the limestone extracted there was also used as regional building material.
Viticulture and Grape Varieties
The wine-growing area is influenced by warm air masses that enter the Upper Rhine region through the Burgundian Gate. On the Batzenberg, Gutedel and Pinot varieties are grown above all, including Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris) and Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc). For Pfaffenweiler, among others, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling and Gewürztraminer are also documented. Gutedel is described as light, low in acidity and straightforward; Spätburgunder is traditionally fermented in the mash or produced as Weißherbst.
History and Cellar Work
The place name is documented in 1267 as Phaphenwiler. The restructuring of vineyards in the Batzenberg area lasted from 1955 to 1971 and included, among other things, the consolidation of plots, levelling of terraces as well as soil improvement and new plantings. The Pfaffenweiler wine estate was established after the merger of local winemakers; its press house was built in 1953. The wines mature in stainless steel tanks and traditional wooden casks.
