Weingut Schloss Ortenberg

From hospital winery to the modern Schloss Ortenberg winery

The roots of the Schloss Ortenberg winery date back to 1407, when the "Im Roth" vineyard was donated to the St. Andreas Foundation of the city of Offenburg. This foundation was originally a hospital for the sick and poor that Offenburg citizens had founded around 1300. A mature municipal winery developed from the foundation's vineyard estates over many generations. In 1950, the Schloss Ortenberg viticultural experimental estate revived the Ortenau wine tradition. In 1997, the two municipal operations — the St. Andreas winery of the city of Offenburg and the Schloss Ortenberg viticultural experimental estate — merged to form today's Schloss Ortenberg winery. With 45 hectares, it was the largest municipal winery in Germany. In May 2021, hotelier Thomas H. Althoff took over the winery as part of his portfolio of 18 Althoff hotels spread across four countries — a change of ownership that led the operation from municipal administration into a private-sector future without giving up the historical identity of the location. Managing Director Matthias Wolf and Cellar Master Hanspeter Rieflin have continued to lead the winery since then.

Granite soils, steep slopes, and organic farming

The winery is located at the transition of the steep western slopes of the Black Forest into the hilly wine landscape of the Ortenau, just before it flows into the Rhine Valley. The key site is the Schlossberg: a mountain spur made of granite, on which the vines grow between 170 and 240 meters in altitude, on slopes with over 50 percent incline that open up to the south like an amphitheater. This microclimate combines the coolness of the Black Forest with the warmth of the Upper Rhine Graben and creates the conditions for expressive wines with a long acidity structure. The oldest site, the Andreasberg, is in the sole possession of the winery — it has been in continuous cultivation since 1407. On a total of around 45 hectares, distributed over other sites such as Ortenberger Freudental and Ohlsbacher Kinzigtäler, the winery relies on organic farming. Vines are protected as naturally as possible, a solar system supplies the operation with renewable energy. The barrique cellar under the vinotheque is visible through glass floors — an expression of a self-image that wants to make craftsmanship visible.

Burgundian depth, Ortenau minerality — and more than just Pinot

Traditionally, the wines of Schloss Ortenberg are said to have "Baden finesse with Burgundian charm." What that means in concrete terms: the granite soils of the Ortenau characterize all wines with a cool, salty minerality, which, in interaction with the controlled warmth of the location, ensures structure and freshness. Core grape varieties are Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Riesling — traditionally called Klingelberger in the Ortenau. In addition, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah have established themselves on the granite sites. The range is clearly structured: the Collection line stands for accessible, varietal-typical wines with a direct reference to the terroir — Sauvignon Blanc et Gris, Riesling Unexpected, and the Pinot Blanc/Chardonnay belong to this. The Furore series bundles white, rosé, and red wines with a bit more complexity and aging potential. With the Pinot Gris "Granit," the winery puts the eponymous rock at the center: the wine carries the soil character directly in its name. Distribution is exclusively through end consumers, gastronomy, and specialized wine retailers — no supermarkets, no discounters.