Location and Climate
The Ölberg is a documented vineyard site in Efringen-Kirchen in the Markgräflerland of the wine region Baden. The area under vine is influenced by Mediterranean air that flows in through the Burgundy Gate between the Vosges and the Jura. For Efringen-Kirchen, a lower amount of rainfall is also described than in the rest of the Markgräflerland.
Relief and Soils
The Ölberg plots lie on steep vineyards, including a section oriented to the south-west. The documented soil profile includes limestone and/or Jurassic limestone rock with a clay-rich topsoil. In addition, alternating deposits of loess and iron components are described in the soils.
Grape Varieties and Wine Style
From the site, wines made from Chasselas, Weißburgunder and Pinot Noir are documented; in addition, Gutedel, Grauburgunder, Spätburgunder, Cabernet Blanc, Regent, Monarch and Cabernet Carol are listed for the named Efringen-Kirchen vineyards. The wines are described as fruity with mild acidity. Documented are dry white wines from Chasselas and Weißburgunder, a dry Pinot Noir and a dry Merlot as a red wine.
Cultivation and Maturation
Plots of the Ölberg are cultivated organically, with diverse cover crops between the rows of vines, including clover, vetch, mallows, oil radish and bee-friendly plants. For the single-site wines, intensive manual work, selection of the grapes and a yield reduction to around 60 kilograms per acre are documented. The Merlot from the Efringer Ölberg is hand-harvested, kept on the skins for 14 days and then biologically deacidified and matured in a used 600-litre wooden barrel; a small portion ripens in barrique. The single-site wines of the Kaufmann organic winery are matured in small and large oak casks.
