About the Winery

Staufen-Wettelbrunn is not a name that appears in large print in the major wine guides. And that's precisely the point. The Markgräflerland — that narrow strip between the Black Forest and the Rhine, south of Freiburg — lives by a quiet independence. Here, right on the Baden Wine Route, sits Weingut Löffler, nestled between the Faust town of Staufen and the wine village of Ballrechten-Dottingen, with views of the Castellberg and its well-known dry-stone walls.

Across 22 hectares, the estate grows varieties that have shaped the Markgräflerland for centuries: Gutedel above all — that light, fresh white grape that is truly at home here. Alongside it: Spätburgunder, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc, Rivaner, and, as a sign of an open outlook, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay as well. The sites on the Castellberg and Fohrenberg are hillside vineyards with loamy loess soils that absorb heat and moisture and release them slowly overnight. The near-Mediterranean climate does the rest.

The winery today bears the names Wolfgang and Andreas Löffler — two brothers, two cellar masters, one shared philosophy. Wolfgang looks after the vines and direct sales; Andreas is responsible for the cellar and the ageing of the wines. Their approach is clear: gentle pressing, careful fermentation, enough time to rest. No shortcuts, no heavy-handed intervention. The wine should speak for its terroir.

The fact that the estate also runs a Strauss-Wirtschaft — the Löffler-Straußi, open since October 1995 and thirty years old in 2025 — says a great deal about the family's sense of purpose. The goal isn't just to sell wine, but to create a place for people to meet. Six tables, a short snack menu, wines from the estate: that's how it started. Today the Straußi is a fixture of the region.

The new Vinothek, thoroughly redesigned after more than 25 years, makes that ambition tangible. A glass floor opens up a view into the barrique cellar below, a dry-stone wall echoes the terraces of the Castellberg, and a real vine grows inside the room. Tradition and modernity — not as a contradiction, but as a stance.

The alcohol-free range is a logical extension of that stance: if you see wine as something to be enjoyed rather than a means to an end, you can offer that enjoyment without alcohol too. Löffler does so with the same care that defines their award-winning wines.

History

Weingut Löffler was founded in 1988. What began as a family operation in Staufen-Wettelbrunn grew over three generations into one of the better-known addresses in the Markgräflerland. In 1995, the Löffler-Straußi opened — initially with six tables, a short snack menu, and wines from the estate, launched by siblings Wolfgang, Christel, and Bernd Löffler together with their families. The Besenwirtschaft coincided with harvest season, which made for a busy start. Thirty years on, the Straußi is an established part of local life. The Vinothek was comprehensively redesigned after more than 25 years, bringing together tradition and a contemporary sensibility.

The people behind the wines

Wolfgang and Andreas Löffler run the winery together as a GbR partnership. Responsibilities are clearly divided: Wolfgang looks after the vineyard work and customer deliveries, while Andreas takes the lead on the cellar and wine development. Both hold the title of Kellermeister. Wolfgang recommends the Gutedel Kabinett as an expression of the Markgräfler way of life — light, fresh, fruity. Andreas champions the Cuvée Black For Rest, a white wine assemblage he describes as unique in its composition. In the Vinothek, Helga Löffler, Marina Bläsi and Roswitha Jägle advise guests and lead tastings.

Terroir

Weingut Löffler's vineyards sit on the slopes of Castellberg and Fohrenberg in the Markgräflerland, south of Freiburg. The steep hillsides of Castellberg, with their historic dry-stone walls, are considered a valuable natural and cultural heritage site. The loamy loess soils retain water and heat, releasing that warmth again at night — an effect that supports vine growth and grape ripening. The climate has a distinctly Mediterranean character, with plenty of sunshine and mild temperatures. This combination of soil, aspect and climate gives the wines their characteristic expression.

How the alcohol-free range is made

Andreas Löffler runs the cellar according to a clearly defined philosophy: gentle pressing, careful fermentation, sufficient resting time. Modern cellar technology is there to protect natural aromas, not to reshape them. In the vineyard, the winery follows the guidelines of controlled environmentally responsible viticulture: cover crops on the slopes to support ecological balance, and deliberately reduced yields for more concentrated fruit. The alcohol-free wines are made from the same grapes and according to the same principles as the conventional range — dealcoholisation is a subsequent step, not a separate production philosophy.

Food pairing

The light, fresh white wines from the Markgräflerland — Gutedel above all — pair well with straightforward regional food: cold cuts and cheese boards, Flammenkuchen, fish from the Upper Rhine. The white wine Cuvée Black For Rest, according to Andreas Löffler, suits a more considered meal. The alcohol-free versions follow the same pairing suggestions and are also a good choice at lunch or on occasions where you'd rather skip the alcohol.

Sustainability

Weingut Löffler manages its vineyards according to the guidelines of controlled environmentally responsible viticulture. Cover crops on the slopes are intended to promote ecological balance in the sites, while deliberately reduced yields raise grape quality. The Castellberg site, with its historic dry-stone walls, is understood as a natural and cultural heritage asset and is cared for accordingly. No further certifications are documented in the available sources.

Awards

Staatsehrenpreis 2025 and 2022 Baden Regional Wine Award (Ehrenpreis der badischen Gebietsweinprämierung): 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2011 Mondial du Chasselas: winner 2016, 2015 and 2014 Gutedel-Cup: winner 2017, 2014, 2012 and 2011