Ortenau

Ortenau sits between the Rhine River to the west and the Black Forest foothills to the east, covering an area roughly 60 km from north to south and 30 km from west to east. The region runs from Baden-Baden in the north down to Lahr in the south. The Hornisgrinde peak, the highest point in the northern Black Forest, reaches 1,164 meters and forms a natural backdrop that shelters the vineyards. Precipitation ranges from 600 to 800 liters per year on the valley floor and climbs to 1,400 liters at higher elevations, creating notably different growing conditions across the region.

• Sandwiched between the Rhine plain and the Black Forest
• Spans Baden-Baden (north) to Lahr (south), a 60 km stretch
• Hornisgrinde peak at 1,164 meters is the dominant geographical landmark
• Black Forest acts as a windbreak for the vineyard slopes below

Ortenau's soils are primarily sandy with a granite mixture, and weathered granite is the dominant bedrock across much of the region. In Neuweier, soils shift to a combination of clay, rubbles, granite, and loam, which contributes to the distinct character of wines from that village. These granitic soils absorb heat during the day and radiate it back through the night, helping maintain ripeness on steep slopes. The climate is cool overall, but the Black Forest provides meaningful wind protection that moderates conditions in the vineyards.

• Dominant soil: sandy with granite mixture; weathered granite bedrock
• Neuweier soils: clay, rubbles, granite, and loam
• Heat retention in granitic soils supports ripeness despite cool temperatures
• Slope gradients reach up to 70-80%, demanding intensive viticulture

Riesling is the signature grape of Ortenau, accounting for approximately 60% of production. It produces elegant, dry white wines with citrus character, orange blossom aromatics, and flinty minerality. Locally, this Riesling carries the historic name Klingelberger, a designation tied to the Klingelberg vineyard near Schloss Staufenberg. Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder) is the leading red variety, producing structured wines well suited to the granitic soils. Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Gris (Grauburgunder), Pinot Blanc (Weissburgunder), Scheurebe, Chardonnay, and Gewürztraminer round out the planted varieties.

• Riesling at approximately 60% is the dominant variety
• Klingelberger is the local synonym for Riesling, named after the Klingelberg site
• Spätburgunder produces structured reds from granitic soils
• Annual competitions TOP TEN Riesling and TOP TEN Spätburgunder showcase the region's best

Viticulture in Ortenau traces to the 13th century, when Cistercian monks from Lichtenthaler Monastery established vineyards in the region. Durbach, one of Ortenau's most important wine villages, has documented wine history dating to the 14th century. The pivotal moment in the region's modern identity came in 1782, when Markgraf Carl Friedrich planted the first pure Riesling vineyard in Baden at the Klingelberg site near Schloss Staufenberg. That planting gave rise to the Klingelberger name and the Klingelberger 1782 quality designation, now used to identify premium Rieslings from the steepest slope positions. The region was historically known as Mortenau.

• Cistercian monks from Lichtenthaler Monastery planted vines in the 13th century
• Durbach wine history is documented from the 14th century onward
• 1782: Markgraf Carl Friedrich planted Baden's first pure Riesling at Klingelberg
• Historically referred to as Mortenau before the name Ortenau became standard

Ortenau is classified as a Bereich (district) within the Baden Anbaugebiet, one of Germany's 13 wine regions. Within Ortenau, the VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter) has recognized Grosse Lage (Grand Cru equivalent) vineyards at Plauelrain in Durbach and Mauerberg in Neuweier. These sites represent the highest classification available under the VDP system. The Klingelberger 1782 designation serves as an additional quality marker for premium Rieslings from steep slopes, honoring the year of the region's founding Riesling planting.

• Classified as a Bereich within the Baden Anbaugebiet
• VDP Grosse Lage: Plauelrain (Durbach) and Mauerberg (Neuweier)
• Klingelberger 1782 is a quality designation for steep-slope Rieslings
• Notable producers include Weingut Andreas Laible, Weingut Schloss Neuweier, and Durbacher Winzergenossenschaft