Wine tasting hike on the Schlossberg hill in Freiburg

We welcome you at the foot of the Schlossberg in the heart of Freiburg's old town and take you on a tour of one of the **100 best vineyard sites in Germany**. We don't know if grapes can enjoy a beautiful view too – but the idea has something to it. Above Freiburg's old town, not far from the cathedral, the single vineyard Freiburger Schloßberg rises to 220–280 meters above sea level. The south-facing steep slope on gneiss weathered soil offers the best conditions for the highest wine quality and is one of Germany's top vineyards. The Schloßberg is part of the crystalline bedrock of the Black Forest and gives the wines grown there a refreshing minerality. The Freiburg Schloßberg Riesling benefits particularly from this unique microclimate: intense sunshine during the day and acidity-preserving coolness at night. This is brought by the Höllentäler downslope wind from the Black Forest, which cools the vines more in the evening than elsewhere in the foothills, which is a great advantage, especially on hot days. The soil, rich in humus and full of life, easily absorbs and stores extreme weather conditions and large amounts of water. This ability is also related to the fact that the soil is worked by hand and never driven on by machines. This keeps the soil uncompacted, loose, and open, creating the ideal growing conditions that are evident in the outstanding wines. In addition to Riesling, Chardonnay is also grown here. The location is also special from a scientific point of view: high natural stone walls divide the Schloßberg and provide a rare habitat for reptiles and butterfly species. The dry stone walls characterize this diverse cultural landscape, which must be preserved. Not only animals feel at home here, but also the vines.