Singen

Singen is in the southern part of Baden-Württemberg, at the foot of the Hohentwiel between Lake Constance and the volcanic-influenced landscape of the Hegau. The town lies at an average of 429 metres above sea level; the lowest point is at 395 metres in the lowlands of the Radolfzeller Aach. The Hohentwiel rises above Singen by 696.2 metres.

Singen is given as having an average annual mean temperature of 9.2 °C, an average annual rainfall of 983 millimetres and around 2,575 hours of sunshine per year.

The vineyards on the Hohentwiel extend to over 500 metres and are regarded as Germany’s highest-lying vineyard site. The Elisabethenberg is on the south-western slopes of the Hohentwiel, at heights of up to 560 metres, and is oriented towards the south-south-west. The site consists exclusively of soils resulting from volcanic weathering; in the lower slope areas, end moraine can be found. Grapes grown include Müller-Thurgau, Riesling, Grauburgunder and Weissburgunder. The wines are described as having mild acidity and fine fruity notes.

According to the operator of the Elisabethenberg, vine growing on the Hohentwiel goes back more than 1,000 years, but was nevertheless abandoned by the end of the 19th century. Robert Vollmayer began the re-cultivation in 1928; from 1934 onwards, the Elisabethenberg was initially planted with 3.85 hectares. The site is designated as a single-vineyard (Einzellage) within the Baden wine-growing region, within the major site of Hohentwiel. Since 2010, the Vollmayer winery has been cultivating its vineyards organically and, from the 2013 vintage onwards, it has been certified as bio. Wines from the highest parcels of the Elisabethenberg are matured in wooden casks and filled unfiltered.