A short note from my holiday at Lake Constance

For me, Lake Constance is one of the most beautiful holiday destinations in Germany. Germany’s largest lake presents itself in new and dramatic ways in every light mood. The Alps, which form an impressive background panorama, and the gently rolling hills that slope down to Lake Constance lend the landscape a special beauty. Add to this the mild climate, influenced by the waters of Lake Constance, and you have ideal conditions for wine growing.

I had the opportunity to visit the most renowned winery on Lake Constance: Weingut Aufricht. It was founded around 70 years ago by Josef Aufricht and is now run by the brothers Robert and Manfred Aufricht, who took over the business from their parents in 1985. They left the cooperative in 1986 to make their own wine.

The winery is idyllically situated in the middle of the Meersburger Sängerhalde vineyard, above Lake Constance, in a nature reserve outside the village of Stetten (between Meersburg and Hagnau). The vines benefit from the special microclimate of the lake: the cold waters of Lake Constance delay the budding of the vines in spring, thus providing some protection against late frosts. In autumn, the lake’s waters warm the vineyards, allowing both red and white grapes to ripen perfectly and for a long time, despite the high altitude of 440 to 470 metres above sea level and the proximity of the Alps.

I particularly liked the Pinot Noirs, especially the 2022 Pinot Noir Isabel, which has a beguiling aroma of red berries and has a wonderful elegance. The 2022 Pinot Noir Mocken impresses with a more black fruity nose that also has something ethereal about it. On the palate it still has some brittle tannin and a dark spiciness. The 2022 Pinot Noir Trielberg, bottled just five days ago, was still a little closed but already showing signs of greatness. All of these Pinot Noirs will need at least three more years of cellaring to reach perfect drinking maturity.

I would like to mention the 2022 Chardonnay Kalkbrunnen, which was my favourite of the white Burgundies. It comes across gently, without excessive reduction, with just a hint of new wood. The aromas unfold delicately but very elegantly from the glass. A beautiful balance between body and acidity completes the picture.

Another tip: after a wine tasting or a hike around Lake Constance, why not stop off at Fräulein Seegucker’s, overlooking the vineyards and Lake Constance. The restaurant serves small local dishes and excellent cakes. Of course, the Aufricht wine is a must – where could it taste better than in the vineyards where it was grown?