Welcome to Wine Region Breisgau
The Breisgau wine region stretches from the Upper Rhine to the slopes of the Black Forest. The Mediterranean climate of the Rhine Valley and the cool winds from the mountains give Breisgau wines their characteristic acidity and freshness.
**Discover the Breisgau wine region!**
The Breisgau wine region stretches 60 kilometers between the Upper Rhine plain and the slopes of the Black Forest – from the Dreisam in Freiburg up to Oberschopfheim near Offenburg. Over 1,500 hectares of vineyards are cultivated here.
The picturesque cultural and wine-growing landscape with its idyllic valleys, tranquil villages, and historic half-timbered houses is rich in history and stories. The region was once a bone of contention, sometimes a gift from various noble families. The many castles in Breisgau still bear witness to this today.
**A wine-growing region of contrasts**
The wine country of Breisgau combines contrasting landscapes and climates, producing exciting wines with unique aromas.
The geography of Breisgau includes the plains of the Upper Rhine and rolling hills in the west and the first steep slopes of the Black Forest in the east, which winegrowers can only cultivate by hand. The soil is covered with thick layers of loess, but occasionally, faults bring shell limestone, red sandstone, and gneiss to the surface. This gives Breisgau wines very different mineralizations.
Climatically, too, Breisgau is caught between conflicting influences. With almost 1,400 hours of sunshine between April and October, the wine region is one of the sunniest and warmest in Germany. The almost Mediterranean climate during the day is contrasted by nighttime cooling from the winds from the Black Forest. These winds give the wines their fine acidity and pleasant freshness.
**The whole diversity of Burgundy**
The Burgundy family characterizes the range of grape varieties in the Breisgau wine region. The most widely grown grape variety is Pinot Noir, accounting for almost 40%, followed by Pinot Gris with 14% and Pinot Blanc with 12%. In addition to the Burgundy family, Müller-Thurgau is also popular with Breisgau winegrowers, accounting for 19% of the area under cultivation. In total, over 1,500 hectares of vines are in production. The favorable locations and numerous hours of sunshine produce excellent, full-bodied wines from the Burgundy grapes. Of course, the signature wine of the Breisgau wine region is also a Burgundy: made from blue Pinot Noir grapes and – a special feature for a rosé – aged for over 6 months in large wooden barrels, the "Breisgau Rosé" stands for an exciting start and a structure that lingers on the palate.
**Hike and experience the Breisgau wine region**
The green grape in a red diamond points the way: on the "Breisgau Wine Trail," hikers can enjoy the changing landscape of vineyards, fields, orchards, and forests while getting to know the winegrowers and wines of the Breisgau region. The Breisgau Wine Trail covers 99 kilometers from Freiburg's old town to Oberschopfheim and is divided into six easy-to-walk stages. It connects to the "Markgräfler Wiiwegli" in the south and merges into the "Ortenauer Weinpfad" in the north.
Those who prefer to travel by bike can also explore the Breisgau wine country on the "Badischer Weinradweg" (Baden Wine Cycle Route). It leads from south to north on well-developed cycle paths through the entire Breisgau wine country – from the Alte Wache in Freiburg via Glottertal, Hochburg near Emmendingen and numerous picturesque wine villages to Oberschopfheim.
**Get to know the Breisgau winegrowers**
Those who enjoy wine also appreciate a look inside the cellar and an expert conversation with winegrowers and cellar masters. The Breisgau wine region offers regular opportunities for this – at four major events that attract wine lovers and winegrowers alike every year:
The "Breisgau Spritztour" in July is the Breisgau wine festival on wheels. Wine lovers can discover the full variety of Breisgau wines and sparkling wines on a round trip bus tour – right where they are matured: in the wine villages, wineries, and winegrowers' cooperatives between Freiburg and Oberschopfheim. The ticket price includes bus travel and tastings of more than 80 wines from the cellars of over 20 Breisgau winegrowers.
The "Breisgau Wine Festival" in August is the highlight of the wine year in Breisgau. Mild summer nights, delicious food, live music, and, of course, wines from Breisgau invite you to linger in the historic city center of Emmendingen. Numerous wineries and winegrowers' cooperatives spoil guests and present their latest vintages.
The "Breisgauer Weingenuss" (every 2 years) in the historic Palais Wunderlich in Lahr combines Breisgau wines and Michelin-starred cuisine for an extraordinary culinary experience. In the vaulted cellar, guests can indulge in a 4-course menu accompanied by wines.
The "Kaiserbergtour" in October also marks the end of the grape harvest in Breisgau. The 19.5-kilometer circular tour leads through the autumnal vineyards and picturesque landscape between Ettenheim, Herbolzheim, and Ringsheim. Along the way, hiking stations with wine stands and delicious food await the pleasure-seeking hikers.
**Your very own Breisgau wine country experience**
Our winegrowers and cellar masters look forward to your visit and warmly welcome you to individual wine tastings, wine experience tours, or overnight stays.
If you would like to visit the Breisgau winegrowers in an uncomplicated, non-binding and spontaneous way, you should definitely take advantage of our "discovery wine tasting." This allows you to enjoy a glass of wine in our wineries and winegrowers' cooperatives, relax, and soak up the special atmosphere of the Breisgau wine country.
Each Discovery Wine Tasting includes 5 tasting cards, each valid for a 0.1-liter glass of wine. You can taste the wines of your choice during our winegrowers' opening hours. The tasting cards are available for €15 at all tourist information offices in the Breisgau region and from participating winegrowers.
Source: DZT Knowledge Graph
