Fantastiska Vinotek

Lively and contemporary wine culture, paired with outstanding gourmet offerings from the kitchen and cellar. Fresh, local and varied — that's the philosophy for the Weber family at their estate in the heart of the Breisgau.

Situated at the transition between the Rhine Plain and the Black Forest, Weingut Weber stands out even as you are still approaching the winery. A striking building with ultra-modern architecture, copious glass, straight lines, clear contours and enlightening views into and out of the various production stations in the wine cellar. Not to mention placement in the midst of a mixed set of lovely landscapes. All processing steps — from pressing to fermentation, from aging to bottling — are conducted on one floor.

The ceiling of the cellar soars up to seven meters in height, while the bottle storage racks sink down 50 meters deep in the mountain. Ideal conditions to use the natural coolness of the loessy soil for wine production. There's no need to cool or heat.

The estate started here almost 70 years ago. Married couple Kosmas and Frieda Weber purchased the south slope of the Barbara mine in 1948. They went on to carve out terraces and planted 250 walnut trees and their first three hectares of grapevines. They deeded the estate to their youngest son, Werner Weber, in 1975, and he remains at the helm even today. Working with his wife Margot, they built the estate over the decades into one of the leading wineries in the region. Daily operations are led by son Michael in collaboration with his parents and partner Annika; they currently oversee viniculture and viticulture for 18 hectares under vine.

Weingut Weber cultivates primarily Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder and Spätburgunder, as well as Müller-Thurgau, Riesling and Scheurebe. One highlight: the varieties are broken down into three categories. The liter bottles with a white label denote light wines for easy enjoyment. "SE" Selection wines in the light gray label involve more of a tangy fruit interplay suited for any occasion. The estate's finest pours are in the "Premium" edition with the dark gray label: wine for aficionados. The winery's high quality standards have earned it many awards. At the "AWC Vienna," the largest officially recognized wine competition in the world, the 2013 and 2014 vintages of the Grauburgunder and the 2014 Weißburgunder each earned gold medals in the "Premium Dry" category. They were joined by six additional silvers.

Another specialty is house brandies in half-liter bottles, with distillations from walnut, grape must and Bartlett pear. Tours and tastings are conducted in the cellar, and hikes through the vineyards often end with a cozy grilling of campfire bread. Those looking for a bit more substantial fare will enjoy the estate's own restaurant, with fine dishes from the Baden region.