The winery is located in the municipality of Heitersheim (Markgräflerland area) in the German wine-growing region of Baden. It was founded around 1844 by Wilhelm I, great-great-great-grandfather of the current owner Fabian Zähringer. After an interim sale to Martini & Rossi, Wolfgang Zähringer re-entered the business in 1986. He introduced comprehensive quality measures and started organic viticulture, which was still rarely practised at that time. Since 2010, Fabian Zähringer, the sixth generation, has been active in the winery. He founded the wine house "Zähringer Zürich" in his second home Zurich in 2010. In addition to the Zähringer wines from Heitersheim, organic wines from other growing regions are also sold there.
The vineyards cover 15 hectares of vines in the single vineyard sites Maltesergarten and Sonnhohle (Heitersheim), Schlossberg (Staufen/Grunern) as well as Castellberg (Ballrechten-Dottingen). They are planted with the red wine varieties Pinot Noir, Regent, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, as well as with the white wine varieties Chasselas, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Müller-Thurgau. The vineyards are cultivated according to the certified ECOVIN guidelines and, since 2010, also according to the biodynamic DEMETER rules. This includes, among other things, targeted planting in the vineyard, the use of biodynamic preparations and the renunciation of synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilisers.
The selectively harvested physiologically ripe grapes are pressed slowly, sometimes with whole clusters, depending on the type of wine. Fermentation takes place spontaneously with the vineyard's own yeasts. Depending on the wine type, the wines are matured in stainless steel, in large wooden barrels, in Vierlig (special Markgräfler 600-litre barrel) or in barrique. The red wines go through the traditional mash fermentation. Malolactic fermentation is also permitted for white wines, depending on the vintage and variety type. The wines are marketed in the lines "Vierlig" (extra dry), "Gutsweine" (litre bottles and 0.75-litre wines mainly from Maltesergarten and Sonnhohle), as well as the "Zähringer Löwe" bottled without filtration (dry premium wines and noble sweet rarities from strictly selected grapes from the top plots). In addition, organically produced sparkling wines and bottle-fermented vintner' s sparkling wines are also produced. Premium products include Pinot Gris SZ, Pinot Noir SR and Chardonnay Sekt Brut. Fine brandies are produced in the estate's own distillery. The winery is a member of the associations Generation Riesling, ECOVIN, DEMETER, Slow Food and VdaW (Verband der agrargewerblichen Wirtschaft).
