Location and Landscape
Wittlingen is a municipality in the lower Kandertal in the Markgräflerland, north of Lörrach and on the eastern edge of the Bamlach-Schallbacher loess hills. The municipal area lies at around 304 to 571 metres above sea level. The highest point is in the Röttler Wald exclave in the Hochstand area.
Historical Background
For Wittlingen, settlement continuity has been documented since the Frankish-Merovingian period, approximately from the fifth to the seventh century. The first written mention was in 874 as Witringhove. Historically, the municipality was shaped by small and medium-sized agriculture; in 1895, 121 of the 161 recorded people were employed in agriculture.
Vineyard Site Steingäßle
The single-vineyard Steingäßle belongs to the Baden winegrowing region. For Wittlingen, the site name may be used for quality and Prädikatsweine from the site that extends beyond the municipality. The Wittlingen parcels are described as having heavy, clay-rich soils with a high proportion of limestone, as well as loess clay and moraine rubble.
Grape Varieties and Vinification
From the Wittlingen Steingäßle parcels, Gutedel, also known as Chasselas, as well as grey and white Burgundy are documented. The wines include dry grey and white Burgundy as a Qualitätswein beziehungsweise QbA, and dry Gutedel. The grey Burgundy is fermented and matured in stainless steel, complemented by lees maturation with Batonnage; the white Burgundy ripens in stainless steel. In the south-facing warm slope, there are in part vines over 40 years old, from which, among other things, a dry Gutedel matured in barrique with a longer time on the skins is produced. For Spätburgunder, younger vines are also documented, as well as a Wollbacher parcel with partly over 50-year-old vines and yield reduction through bunch splitting.
