Tag Archives: Baden

Germany, Wines

Wine Notes: Markgraeflerland I

 

What I Learned

The Markgraeflerland wine district is along the southern-most section of the Rhine as it borders France and Switzerland, in the wine region of Baden, in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. It is the southern-most wine producing district in Germany. It begins in Weil am Rhein, just outside the Swiss city of Basel, and continues almost to Freiburg. The vineyards lie on the foothills between the river valley floor, and the Black Forest mountains to the east. About 3000 hectares, and 90 cooperatives, cellars and wine estates are dedicated to the production of this district’s wine, carried out the in villages and small towns that dot this area.

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Germany, Hiking, Nutshell

Wii Wegli: Trail in a Nutshell I

 

Trail Name:  Wii Wegli

Trail Type: Long distance hiking trail; very well-maintained and almost exclusively paved or hard-pack, marking on the trail is consistent, and pretty good throughout (although maps are necessary).

Length: 81.6 kilometers/50.5 miles (See comment below)

Convenient to: Freiburg, or Weil am Rhein, Germany, Basel, Switzerland

Marking: Yellow grape cluster on a red diamond on a white background (Note: many times, the red has faded to white. Another note: In the final segment, the trail often follows the Jacobusweg: yellow cockleshell on blue background)

Wii Wegli Trail Marking
Wii Wegli Trail Marking

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Germany, Hiking

Durbacher Weinpanorama Trail

 

Durbach is the name of a quiet village set among the hills of the Ortenau wine district in Germany.

This village, on the edge of the famous Black Forest, attracts active vacationers who enjoy being outdoors. Dark green woods, bright green vineyards, and tufts of wildflowers set against contrasting shades of green, or bright blue sky, form a large part of this summertime color palette. Snaking through it, in shades of red or white, are thin paths leading upward. They combine, in a variety of ways, to form sections of the numerous hiking trails crisscrossing this hilly landscape. Hikers wishing to take advantage of them will need to stay for several days to explore them all!

From Above Durbach
From Above Durbach

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Germany, Wines

Wine Notes: Ortenau, Durbach

 

What I Learned

The Ortenau is a district in Germany’s Baden wine region. This district lies on an undulating landscape, in bucolic countryside, punctuated by picturesque wine villages. Durbach is one of these villages, renowned for its excellent vineyards, and justly famed for the quality of its wines. Ridgelines here are less lines, than semi-circles, creating several small natural bowls with steep sides. Most of the growths have ideal exposure to the sun. Additionally, these bowls protect the grape-bearing slopes from too much wind. The climate here is exceptionally mild and sunny in summer. In short, this is one of the best areas for growing grapes in Baden.

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Germany, Hiking, Nutshell

Weinpanorama Weg: Trail in a Nutshell

 

Trail Name: Durbacher Weinpanorama Weg

Trail Type: Medium distance circuit; tarmac or hard-packed (albeit some loose gravel here and there), well maintained, fairly well-marked, albeit not always easy to see. (Also see comments below.)

Length: total: 16 kilometers / 10 miles

Convenient to: Offenburg, Germany; Strasbourg, France

Marking: Signs with white letters spelling “Durbacher Weinpanorama”

Durbacher Weinpanorama Signs
Durbacher Weinpanorama Signs

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Germany, Hiking

In Rebland

 

“Rebland” marks the start of Ortenau’s “grape-land” south and west of Baden-Baden. This is wonderful vineyard country. From the villages of Varnhalt to Steinbach to Neuweier are some of the well-known named vineyards ranged along (usually) sunny slopes: the Altenberg, Sommerhalde, and Klosterbergfelsen by Varnhalt, the Stich den Buben by Steinbach/Umweg, and the Mauerberg and Goldenes Loch in Neuweier.

The Nellenberg is the hill rising above Varnhalt. Covered with vines, this great little town is famous locally for its wine. Rising above the Nellenberg is Yberg mountain, crowned by a castle, which has astounding and far-ranging views of this part of the Rhine River Valley. Around the other side of these hills is Neuweier, with its palace and famous vineyards.

Castle and Mountain of Yberg
Castle and Mountain of Yberg

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Germany, Wines

Wine Notes: Baden/Ortenau

 

What I Learned

Within Baden’s Ortenau wine district, there are several distinct wine areas. One of these is known as Rebland  (literally, grape-land), located just south of the famous spa town of Baden-Baden, and north of Buhlertal. The steep hills offer a nice western and sometimes southerly exposure. These hills, which protect the grape-bearing slopes from too much wind, and the relatively mild and sunny climate, make this one of the best areas for growing grapes in Germany.

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Germany, Hiking, Nutshell

Nellele Rundweg: Trail in a Nutshell

 

Trail Name: Nellele Rundweg

Trail Type: Short distance circuit; often paved, the remainder is hard-packed earth, well maintained, the route is very well marked.

Length: total: 7.2 kilometers/4.5 miles

Convenient to: Baden-Baden, and Karlsruhe, Germany

Marking: A purple-pink circle on a white background.

Signage for the Nellele Rundweg
Signage for the Nellele Rundweg

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