The Baden region in neighboring Germany is well-known for its high-quality wines. The terroir, climate, and geological conditions of the region result in white wines that are fruity and minerally as well as full-bodied red wines with varietal aromas. Because the vines in Baden are predominantly planted on volcanic soils and loess, the primary grape varieties grown here are similar to those grown in the Burgundy region of France—Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder), Pinot Gris (Grauburgunder), Pinot Blanc (Weissburgunder), Chardonnay, and Auxerrois. Other grape varieties grown in Badem include Riesling, Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, St. Laurent, and Gutedel.

The Baden Wine Route is a famous tourist route in the neighboring Black Forest region of Germany, which stretches over 160 kilometers from Weil am Rhein to Baden-Baden, with a loop around the Kaiserstuhl and Tuniberg. It is often also referred to as the “gourmet dining route” because it zig-zags by many village inns, all offering regional specialties ranging from asparagus to “Speck” (bacon). In addition to wineries, half-timbered houses, fortresses, ruins, castles, monasteries, and museums invite you to stop and visit.

Exploring the Area on Foot or Bike

You can drive, cycle, hike, or some combination thereof, through the vineyards and wine towns in the foothills of the Upper Rhein Valley on the western edge of the Black Forest. Many places along the route offer parking for hikers; just leave the car and roam the vineyards on foot. If you are looking for a longer tour, the Markgräfler Wiiwegli is an 81 km-long hiking trail through the wine-growing areas in the Markgräflerland region that connects Weil am Rhein with Freiburg. For some great hiking trail ideas along the Baden wine route, visit https://www.badische-weinstrasse.de/erleben/weinwandern. Here you can also click on “Mehrtagestouren” to discover multi-day tours. Wander in the foothills and between the vineyards, drink your wine directly from the vintners, and spend the night in quaint wine-growing villages.

Exploring the Area by Museum Train

Another way to explore the wine route is in the “Rebenbummler,” a little old museum train that chugs through Baden’s vineyards on the Kaiserstuhl (https://www.eisenbahnfreunde-breisgau.de/der-rebenbummler/) on select dates with different offers. For example, in September, you can sample regional wines in the bar-wagon while the old steam engine with its original wooden benches and open platforms is chugging from Endingen in the north to Breisach in the south of the Kaiserstuhl. This “rolling wine-tasting” passes fertile fields, meadows with fruit trees, as well as vineyards and wineries. Sometimes the steam engine stops on its way so that the “Vierteleschlotzer” (a name that the people in Baden like to give to those who appreciate a good glass of wine) can enjoy their wines directly from the vintners in the middle of the vineyard. (https://www.eisenbahnfreunde-breisgau.de/der-rebenbummler/unsere-fahrangebote/rollende-weinprobe/)

For one of the trips in October, the “Rebenbummler” visits the sparkling wine region of the Kaiserstuhl. This tour starts in Endingen and chugs along the Kaiserstuhl to Breisach, and from there to Oberrotweil. There, you will be accompanied on a guided tour and sparkling wine tasting in the cellars of the Oberrotweil Winegrowers’ Association. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity to sample more wines and sparkling wines and enjoy a snack at the winegrowers’ association’s autumn get-together. The culinary delights on offer will leave nothing to be desired. In the late afternoon we will take you back to the starting point (https://www.eisenbahnfreunde-breisgau.de/der-rebenbummler/unsere-fahrangebote/erfrischend-spritzig/) Other trips in October include a whiskey tasting; a tour with beer and music by a brass band; or a tour including a short hike through the vineyards and a lunch. You can find the full 2025 schedule of the different tours and prices at https://storage.e.jimdo.com/file/3ae301c3-1dd2-4338-844f-3a5b0edd4302/Rebenbummler_Fahrplan_2025.pdf.

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