Markgraf von Baden - Birnauer Kirchhalde Müller-Thurgau dry dry VDP.ERSTE LAGE 2013 MAGNUM 1500ml

Markgraf von Baden – Birnauer Kirchhalde Müller-Thurgau VDP.ERSTE LAGE dry 2013

The Birnauer Kirchhalde Müller-Thurgau VDP.ERSTE LAGE dry 2013 from the Markgraf von Baden winery is a remarkable white wine from one of the most spectacular vineyards on Lake Constance. The winery, which produces its wines in the cellars of the former Cistercian monastery at Salem Castle and at Staufenberg Castle in Durbach, is one of Germany’s largest and most traditional private VDP wineries. With a vineyard area of around 135 hectares and a grape variety mix comprising 21 per cent Müller-Thurgau, the estate is one of the leading producers of this variety in Baden.

The Birnauer Kirchhalde vineyard is situated directly below the famous Birnau pilgrimage church in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen and slopes steeply down towards Lake Constance. The soils are characterised by heavily weathered moraine material, which lends the wine a delicate minerality and structure. Winegrowing around Birnau has been documented since the 13th century; the current vineyard was established in the 1960s by Max, Margrave of Baden, on land formerly used for pasture and orchards. The vines that the Margrave once planted below the pilgrimage church are now over 56 years old and are considered exceptionally valuable.

The 2013 vintage is classified as a VDP.ERSTE LAGE for the Birnauer Kirchhalde – a classification reserved for wines from vineyards with exceptional quality potential. The Müller-Thurgau is characterised by a clear, fresh style with the delicate fruit typical of the grape variety and a lively acidity. The estate’s VDP.ERSTE LAGE wines are produced from strictly selected grapes and reflect the specific terroir of their origin. Tasting notes for wines in this range highlight a nutty, spicy character and an elegant structure.

In November 2024, the Markgraf von Baden winery announced that it would be largely withdrawing from winegrowing around Lake Constance and grubbing up 60 hectares of vineyards. The Birnauer Kirchhalde vineyard belongs to the monastery and is leased by the winery; the lease agreement still has two years to run. In future, the historic vineyards at Birnau will be managed by winemakers Thomas Kress and Matthias Krause, who intend to preserve the old vines and carry on the winemaking tradition at this special location. For wine lovers, the 2013 Birnauer Kirchhalde Müller-Thurgau thus remains a testament to an era in which the House of Baden shaped viticulture on Lake Constance – an elegant, terroir-driven white wine from a vineyard site that ranks among the finest in Germany.