Württemberg wine region

Travel Guide to Württemberg Wine Region

Württemberg wine region is the fourth largest wine region in Germany with roughly 11,000 hectares of vineyards. Württemberg is an unusual wine region of Germany, as the majority of the production is dedicated to red varieties. The wines produced here have very little exposure in the international market but locally, the wines of Württemberg are well received and have the highest consumption in all of Germany. Württemberg wine region is also a land of green hills, forests, and fast cars; in fact, the world-famous Mercedes-Benz and Porsche were born here. 

Find out about Wine Tasting and Tours in Württemberg to enjoy if you visit the region.

Württemberg – Germany’s Premier Red Wine Region   

Württemberg wine region is the fourth largest in Germany with more or less 11,000 hectares of vineyards.

From Urban to Rural - Multifaceted Württemberg

Apart from the urban centres of Stuttgart and Heilbronn, Württemberg is predominantly rural countryside with vineyards and orchards scattered in areas covered by forests and vast fields. Most of the historical terraced vineyards have been replanted and reworked to improve efficiency. However, a few of them still exist, the "Cliff Gardens" being the most significant near the Neckar scenic loop between Besigheim and Mundelsheim. The Württemberg wine region’s climate is characterised by cold winters, relatively sunny summers, and abundant rainfalls.

In the wine region of Württemburg, the majority of the producers are part of cooperatives because a lot of winegrowers only own small vineyard plots. Vineyard owners well their grapes to the cooperative so they process, produce, and bottle the wines for sale.

Grape Varieties in Württemberg wine region

The main grape variety grown is Trollinger, which is rarely found outside of this region, followed by Lemberger, Schwarzriesling (also known as Müllerrebe), and Spätburgunder. Red wines produced with these grapes are light and fruity and are easy to drink. The red wines of the Württemberg wine region have a deep and bright red colour with a light to medium-bodied fresh flavour and are known for their excellent quality.

Even though two-thirds of the vines grown here are of red varieties, the Riesling wines from this region are highly appreciated, particularly those produced near the village of Flein. Riesling accounts for nearly a quarter of the vineyards in the area, followed by Kerner and Müller-Thurgau. The Kerner varietal is a crossing of Trollinger and Riesling, created at the oenological center in Weinsberg. In general, these wines are light-medium bodied and aromatic, with a vigorous acidity. 

Red Varieties: Trollinger, Lemberger, Schwarzriesling, Spätburgunder

White Varieties: Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, Kerner  

Württemberg Wine Region Map

What are the Württemberg Wines Like?

Trollinger is known to be the quintessential drink of the Württemberg wine region; its taste matches perfectly with the setting and the smells of the Swabian Mountain Range. The wine is characterised by its light-bodied feel with a light and soft acidity with flavours of violet, red currants, strawberries, sweet or sour red cherries, and sometimes a hint of almond at the finish. Trollinger tastes great with a range of foods but especially with local delicacies such as Maultaschen. 

Lemberger is also known as the charming prince of German red wines; it is an intense medium-bodied wine. Its sweet and sour palate, paired with berry, plum and cherry taste, make for a fresh and juicy glass of wine.

Concerning the main white grape variety of the Württemburg region, Riesling can be found both very dry and delightfully sweet. These taste characteristics depend on the climatic conditions where the grapes grow, the type of soil, either limestone or sandstone as well as how long the grapes are on the vine ripening. Dry Rieslings are higher in acidity and generally picked with lower sugar levels.

Wineries to Visit in Württemberg Wine Region Map

There is an abundance of possibilities to make your trip to Württemberg wine region unforgettable experience. Visit wineries and admire breathtaking terrace landscapes with a glass of wine.

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Lauffener Weingärter 

The Lauffener Winery is a cooperative that consists of 1200 wineries from the entire Württemberg wine region. In 2012, production was expanded to the Baden wine region with the acquisition of an estate. The winery cultivates fruity Riesling, Schwarzriesling and Lemberger (just to name a few) on the steep slopes of the Neckar River Valley.

Plan a visit to the winery, where owner will show you full process of winemaking, including fermentation and bottling phases and will introduce you some of the best wines of the estate.

Weingärter Stromberg-Zabergäu

The importance of the Stromberg-Zabergäu Winery for the Württemberg wine region is easily understandable: it was awarded as the number one winery for the growing of top-quality Lemberger grapes. The history of the winery begins in the 1920s, and in 2012 it became the third-largest group of winegrowers in Germany. All the members of the Stromberg-Zabergäu co-op have introduced organic practices into their viticulture and harvesting methods. 

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Weingut Fuerst Hohenlohe Oheringen 

The Fuerst Hohenlohe Oheringen Winery, located in the village of Verrenberg, is managed and owned by the 27th generation of winemakers. The vineyards cover an area of 17 hectares, where the main grape varieties of the Württemberg wine region are grown. Only handpicked and selected berries make it to the fermentation process, in order to assure the highest-quality.

At the Fuerst Hohenlohe Oheringer Winery, you can also find a family-run restaurant that serves local dishes. 

Weingut Kuhnle 

Werner and Margret Kuhnle manage this 500-year old winery in the Remstal-Stuttgart area. The 25 hectares of vineyards are spread across steep slopes and profit of great soil and perfect climate conditions. The main red and white grape varieties of the Württemberg wine region are carefully handpicked and used to produce the winery’s high-quality wines. 

Read more about Wineries in Württemberg wine region to visit.

Stuttgart – the City of Fast Cars  

Stuttgart is the capital city of Baden-Württemberg. The Romans conquered the area around modern-day Stuttgart in the 1^st century AD, as this was a very fertile and agriculturally advanced area. Indeed, the vineyards of the Württemberg wine region in green, rolling hills surround Stuttgart. Throughout history, Stuttgart went from being an agricultural centre to be an advanced technological and innovative centre. Nowadays, Stuttgart is mainly known for being the “home” of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. 

The heart of the city can be identified with the Schlossplatz (Castle Square), where the Neue Schloss (New Castle) is. The palace was the residence of the Kings of Württemberg but is not the headquarter of the Baden-Württemberg state. The State Museum is also located on the square, inside the Gothic Old Palace. 

The two main attractions of Stuttgart include the museums of both Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. Both museums are entirely dedicated to the two automobile brands and retrace the history of these two high-quality and luxurious brands. 

As it concerns wine, every year from the last week of August to the first of September, Stuttgart hosts the Wine Village, a 12-day celebration of the wine traditions in the Württemberg region. Visitors have the possibility to taste more than 500 types of local wine, paired with Swabian delicacies. 

Heilbronn - Württemberg’s Wine Capital

Considering that it is more than 1200 years old, Heilbronn has many stories to tell and many feathers in its cap. Heilbronn is considered to be Württemberg’s wine capital; as a matter of fact, a wine festival that attracts hundreds of thousands of people happens in town every year in September. 

The city’s main historic building is Saint Killian’s Church, a Gothic masterpiece entirely built with sandstone mined from the city itself. The oldest part of the church dates back to the 1200s, and the most recent architecture is the Renaissance-inspired tower that was built in the 16^th century. 

The Heilbronn Wine Festival is mainly dedicated to the tastings of local red wines, both the most common ones and those made with less known and more rare grapes. The Festival also features live concerts in the courtyard of the City Hall and food stalls serving local specialities. 

Grafenburg – A Castle on the River  

Located near the town of Lauffen Am Neckar, this 11th-century castle lies on the only island on the Neckar River. Nowadays, the Castle is used as a Town Hall and a museum about its history. Grafenburg was built entirely in stone and the core section of it is in the Romanesque style. The recognizable features of this insular castle are the residential towers.  

Nature to Visit in Württemberg Wine Region

Black Forest National Park – Wild and Untamed Nature 

The entire area of the Black Forest became a National Park in 2014. The National Park was established in order to start a protection process to ensure the biodiversity of the Black Forest is preserved for future generations. The Park is 160km long from north to south.  

Stuttgart is 75km away from the east entrance to the Black Forest National Park, more or less near the village of Villingen. It is a great destination for a day trip from either the Baden wine region or the Württemberg wine region.

The Black Forest is very famous in German popular culture and became a huge destination thanks to its folklore. For example, cuckoo clocks are a typical artisan good from the Black Forest; they are made with the wood from the Forest’s pine, oak, elm, or beech trees. Hansel and Gretel get lost in the Black Forest and discover the candy-covered house of the old witch. 

Galgenberg – Come See the View 

Galgenberg Hill (312m) is the highest point in the city of Heilbronn. From this vantage point, capture a great view over Württemberg’s Wine Capital and view the Black Forest from above. To reach the viewing platform, you’ll need to walk a very easy path. Around the hill, several trails for hikers and MTB are available.  

Find the best Württemberg Wine Tour Guides and embark on Guided Wine Tours in Württemberg.

Food to Try in Württemberg Wine Region

The taste and smells of Baden-Württemberg are incredibly unique in the panorama of German cuisine. The atmosphere of the whole region, in which the enchanting Black Forest plays an important role, is that of a fairy-tale, where even food is filled with magic. 

Ofenschlüpfer - Swabian Traditional Pudding 

The Ofenschlüpfer is a bread pudding that is originally from Swabia but is popular in the entire Baden-Württemberg state. The main ingredients are old bread and apples; all the pieces are then soaked in a mixture of milk, sugar, vanilla, eggs, butter, and cinnamon. When baked, the dough becomes crunchy on top but stays soft in the middle. 

The Ofenschlüpfer is usually garnished with raisins, almonds, or powdered sugar. The dessert is best served warm together with some crème Inglese or with vanilla ice-cream.

Maultaschen - German Ravioli 

Maultaschen are a type of ravioli very popular in all the southern part of Germany. These German ravioli are filled with meat mixed with spinach, as the legend says they were invented by monks who didn’t want to renounce eating meat during the fasting period. 

This Swabian speciality can be served in broth, fried with onions or even roasted with eggs. Local housewives and restaurants have their own signature way of serving this tasty and widespread dish.