Affentaler Winzer

Affentaler Winzer eG is a winegrowers' cooperative (Winzergenossenschaft) based in Eisental, a district of Bühl in the Ortenau wine-growing area of the German Baden region. Its best-known product is the 'Affentaler' brand, sold in the distinctive 'Affenflasche' (monkey bottle) — a bottle decorated with a gold- or copper-coloured painted monkey relief — filled with Riesling, Spätburgunder rosé and Spätburgunder red wine. The cooperative traces its origins to 1908, when 24 winegrowers founded the Naturweinbauverein Affental, and it took its present form through a series of mergers, most recently in 2018 with the Baden-Badener Winzergenossenschaft. Today the cooperative has around 980 member winegrowers cultivating roughly 235 hectares of vineyards stretching from Eisental across Altschweier, Bühlertal, Kappelwindeck, Waldmatt and Neusatz to Ottersweier. The main grape varieties are Riesling (about 105 ha), Spätburgunder (about 90 ha), Müller-Thurgau (about 20 ha) and other varieties such as Weißer Burgunder, Grauer Burgunder, Traminer, Sauvignon Blanc and Dunkelfelder (about 10 ha). Annual sales are around 2.6 million litres of wine. Distribution is split roughly between food retail (about 30%), specialist trade (about 40%) and gastronomy plus direct sales (about 30%). Exports account for about 4% of sales, mainly to the USA and Asia; demand in Asia rose sharply in 2004, the Year of the Monkey in the Chinese zodiac. The wines are marketed through Baden-Badener Weinhaus am Mauerberg GmbH. The cooperative's vineyards benefit from a special geographical position at the steep rise of the northern Black Forest, with granite weathering soils on the steep slopes and fertile loess soils in the foothills, allowing Spätburgunder and Riesling to ripen particularly long. Beyond the classic Affenflasche, the range includes the 'Monkey Mountain & N°1' line, Sekt and Secco, and various editions and gift sets.

The origins of Affentaler Winzer lie in the medieval viticulture of the Affental valley near Baden-Baden. Around 1250, Cistercian nuns of Lichtenthal Abbey planted Spätburgunder vines there. A pilgrimage chapel visited by many pilgrims stood near the vineyard, and in reference to the Ave Maria the valley was popularly called 'Ave Tal', from which the present name 'Affental' developed. In 1908, 24 winegrowers joined together to form the Naturweinbauverein Affental. At that time only Spätburgunder was cultivated, sold exclusively to the gastronomy sector, making the association the only cooperative in Germany focused primarily on red winegrowing. In the neighbouring village of Eisental, Riesling growers founded a white wine cooperative in 1937 and began building a cellar building in the village centre. In 1949 the Affentaler Spätburgunder was bottled for the first time in the Affenflasche (monkey bottle), whose shape was designed by a Karlsruhe pharmacist. In the same year, the Winzergenossenschaft Altschweier was founded in what is now the Bühl district of Altschweier. In 1959 the Naturweinbauverein Affental merged with the Winzergenossenschaft Eisental to form the Winzergenossenschaft Eisental-Affental, and the cellar in Eisental was expanded step by step to handle the growing vineyard area. A year later, the Altschweier and Kappelwindeck cooperatives merged into the Winzergenossenschaft Altschweier-Kappelwindeck. On 1 September 1973 the two remaining cooperatives merged to form the Affentaler Winzergenossenschaft. In July 2018 the members of the Baden-Badener Winzergenossenschaft and Affentaler Winzer decided to merge the two businesses. The new cooperative is called Affentaler Winzer eG. Today it has around 980 members cultivating about 235 hectares, with annual sales of around 2.6 million litres of wine, marketed through Baden-Badener Weinhaus am Mauerberg GmbH.

• 2018

  In July members of Baden-Badener Winzergenossenschaft and Affentaler Winzer approve a merger; the new cooperative is named Affentaler Winzer eG.

• 2004

  Demand for the Affenflasche rises sharply in Asia as 2004 is the Year of the Monkey in the Chinese zodiac.

• 1973

  On 1 September the two remaining cooperatives merge to form the Affentaler Winzergenossenschaft.

• 1960

  Winzergenossenschaften Altschweier and Kappelwindeck merge into Winzergenossenschaft Altschweier-Kappelwindeck.

• 1959

  Naturweinbauverein Affental merges with Winzergenossenschaft Eisental to form Winzergenossenschaft Eisental-Affental.

• 1949

  Affentaler Spätburgunder is bottled for the first time in the Affenflasche (monkey bottle), designed by a Karlsruhe pharmacist; Winzergenossenschaft Altschweier is founded.

• 1937

  Riesling growers found a white wine cooperative in Eisental and begin building a cellar.

• 1908

  24 winegrowers found the Naturweinbauverein Affental.

• Cistercian nuns of Lichtenthal Abbey plant Spätburgunder vines near what becomes Affental.

Traditional Baden winegrowers' cooperative with a cult, design-led flagship (the Affenflasche) that is both a regional heritage product and an internationally recognised novelty wine.

• Affentaler Affenflasche (monkey bottle)

  Cult product: Riesling, Spätburgunder rosé and Spätburgunder red in a bottle with a gold- or copper-coloured painted monkey relief.

• Monkey Mountain & N°1

  Wine line offered by the cooperative.

• Selektion Leo

  Selection line.

• Winzer-Edition

  Winegrower edition.

• Traditionslinie Buddelflasche

  Traditional line in the Buddelflasche bottle.

• Sekt & Secco

  Sparkling wine and semi-sparkling wine.

• Blütenedition

  Floral edition.

1. 1Home - Affentaleraffentaler.de
2. 2Affentaler Winzer - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Affentaler Winzer - Wikidatawikidata.org