Markgräflerland in a Bottle – The Löffler Family
Markgräflerland · Baden
Weingut Löffler
Three generations of winemaking between the Black Forest, Castellberg, and the Baden wine route.
The House
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.
Story
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
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
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 it’s made
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.
At the Table
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.
The Collection
Weingut Löffler at alcfree.ch
See all Weingut Löffler wines at alcfree.ch