Location
Württemberg is situated in south-western Germany, near the border of France and Switzerland, with the cities of Stuttgart and Heilbronn at its centre. The climate here has a Mediterranean influence due to its proximity to Lake Constance—the second largest freshwater lake in central Europe. This is also the reason why most Württemberg wine estates are located on the hillsides surrounding this body of water. Situated so close to the Neckar River, which makes a dramatic journey from its source near Schwäbisch Hall all the way to Mannheim where it meets up with the Rhine—over 200 kilometres away—this wine region offers some of Germany’s most scenic landscapes.
The terroir here can be quite varied, but mostly consists of brown earth interspersed with clay and loess soils (rich in minerals). The lake acts as a heat reserve that helps maintain an agreeable temperature for delicate grape varieties such as Riesling and Pinot Noir, while higher elevations that receive more direct sunlight enable more robust grapes like Trollinger or Lemberger (Blaufränkisch) to thrive.
History
As the name suggests, Württemberg is a state in southwest Germany. It’s also one of the 13 German wine growing regions. The area has an interesting history, and it’s one you can still see firsthand as you travel its back roads through vineyards and forests and small towns.
The first known inhabitants of this area were the Celts, who arrived in southern Germany around 600 B.C. Württemberg was their Celtic kingdom called Vurgunda, or Urgoetium by Roman historians who wrote about them in 74 BC when Julius Caesar invaded Gaul (modern day France). When they arrived they found winding rivers that carried cargo to trading centers like Stuttgart, Heilbronn, Tübingen and Ulm.
In the ensuing years these villages grew into some of Germany’s most significant cities today—Stuttgart being the capital of Baden-Württemberg while Heilbronn, Tübingen and Ulm are important commercial hubs for southern German industry.
Grape varieties and wine styles
Württemberg is most famous for its red wines, the majority of which are made from the Trollinger grape variety. Trollinger (also known as Schiava Grossa) is a thin-skinned, aromatic grape that makes light-bodied wines with good acidity and freshness. On its own, it can produce simple wines with flavors of strawberries and cherries. However, when blended with Lemberger (Blaufränkisch), it’s capable of making some very good reds that are spicy and food-friendly.
Appellations and important producers
While Germany has 13 wine regions, the most important ones are Baden, Württemberg, Pfalz, Rheinhessen, Nahe, Mosel, Rheingau and Hessische Bergstrasse. These regions have their own appellations that you should keep an eye out for when shopping at your local wine retailer.
Württemberg is an important region in the German wine industry.
Württemberg is a region in southwestern Germany, which has developed over the years to become an important region in the German wine industry. The Württemberg vineyards are located on the eastern side of the Rhine Valley and cover 18,000 hectares. The vineyards are spread out over a variety of different altitudes and terrains, resulting in many different soil types. As a result of this diversity, many different wines are produced in Württemberg each year.
Within Württemberg itself lies an even smaller sub-region called Swabian Alb. This sub-region is known for its steep slopes and hard to reach vineyards that produce fantastic Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) varietals. Württemberg is also well known for producing excellent white wines such as trocken Rieslings (dry Rieslings), Müller-Thurgau and Lemberger or Blauer Limberger (Blauburgunder).
With so much attention being given to quality production at these German wineries, it’s no surprise that so many of them have quickly become world renowned: