The Ortenau wine-growing region nestles into the area where the steep western slopes of the Black Forest merge into the hilly landscape of vineyards leading into the Rhine valley. Vines here were first cultivated in the area around Ortenberg castle. The region boasts a unique terroir combining granite soils with the warmer temperatures of the Rhine valley and cooler winds from the Black Forest. This forms the natural basis for the top wines produced by the winery, which are said to embody Baden finesse with Burgundian charm. Viticulture here can be traced back to 1407. Over the years, new grape varieties have been cultivated in old vineyard sites, producing Grand Crus which are then tweaked and improved over time. But one thing has always remained the same: the harmonious symbiosis between people, nature and tradition.

 

Managing director, Matthias Wolf, hotelier, Thomas H. Althoff, and winemaker, Hanspeter Rieflin are dedicated to ensuring that the Schloss Ortenberg winery maintains its traditional signature, while successfully moving forward into the future. The winery focuses in particular on the grape varieties of the Burgundy family, Riesling – which takes on a unique character in Ortenau and is the most widely planted white wine variety – and Sauvignon, which has been cultivated since 1936.