Hot springs, outdoor sports, delicious local produce and Pinot-based wines make this pretty corner of Germany a real draw, discovers Sue Style. Published in the June 2012 issue.
Baden: Six of the best wineries to visit
☆Schloss Staufenberg, Durbach, Ortenau
A magnificent castle-winery owned by the Margrave of Baden. Elegant Riesling, plus Sauvignon Blanc and serious Spätburgunder. markgraf-von-baden.de
☆ Weingut Danner, Durbach, Ortenau
Exciting natural wines (mainly Spätburgunder) grown on 7ha. Winemaker Alexander Danner has three simple classifications: Type 1, raised in stainless steel; Type 2, large oak casks; Type 3, barriques. danner-weingut.de
☆ Weingut Dr Heger/Weinhaus Heger Ihringen, Kaiserstuhl
Leading German estate with 23ha in Grosses Gewächs (grand cru) volcanic vineyards, 35ha grown on loess soils and 16ha from the cooler calcareous clay soils. heger-weine.de
☆ Weingut Bercher, Burckheim, Kaiserstuhl
Family domaine with 24ha of own vines and 12ha under contract, based in an elegant 18th-century house. Flowery, full-bodied and fully dry whites and gorgeous Spätburgunders. weingutbercher.de
☆ Weingut Huber, Malterdingen, Breisgau
The quality of this site was identified by monks 700 years ago. Bernhard Hube makes superb young-vine Pinot Noir plus sensual Grosses Gewächs. weingut-huber.com
☆ Weingut Ziereisen, Efringen- Kirchen, Markgräflerland
Hanspeter Ziereisen had two Spätburgunders in the top 10 at a recent international Pinot Noir tasting in London. His 16ha family winery also produces fragrant, fruit-driven Gutedel. weingut-ziereisen.de
