Location and landscape
Riegel is a municipality in the Emmendingen district in Baden-Württemberg. It lies on the northern edge of the Kaiserstuhl, at the entrance to the Breisgau plain. In the surrounding area, the water systems of the Elz, Glotter and Dreisam converge; there the Leopold Canal branches off from the Elz.
Geology and climate
At the foot of the Michaelsberg, which lies south of Riegel, loess slopes and geological outcrops are exposed. The summit of the Michaelsberg is at around 243 metres above sea level. The Kaiserstuhl in Baden is one of the sunniest and warmest regions in Germany.
History
The settlement history of Riegel dates back about 7,000 years; the place was first mentioned in a document in the year 762. Around 1160, a castle was built on the Michaelsberg. The present Michaels Chapel largely goes back to a rebuilding in 1465.
Viticulture
The St. Michaelsberg is listed as an individual vineyard site (Einzellage) for the municipality of Riegel within the Kaiserstuhl wine-growing region in Baden. Under German wine law, the names of registered individual vineyard sites may be used as smaller geographical designations with a protected designation of origin. In the Kaiserstuhl, wines made from red and white Pinot varieties are widespread, including Spätburgunder, Grauburgunder and Weißburgunder.
