State Winery Freiburg

What State Winery Freiburg does

Staatsweingut Freiburg is a state-owned German winery wholly operated by Land Baden-Württemberg through the Staatliches Weinbauinstitut Freiburg (State Wine Institute), producing wines from 37 hectares of vineyard distributed across the Freiburg and Ihringen am Kaiserstuhl sites. Founded in 1842, the winery is structurally integrated with the State Wine Institute's viticulture research program, giving it proprietary access to PIWI (pilzwiderstandsfähige / fungus-resistant) grape varieties developed in-house — including Cabernet Cortis, Monarch, Prior, and Souvignier Gris — that underpin its organic and sustainable production approach. The portfolio spans an entry-level Staatsweinkeller line (including the Professor Blankenhorn series honoring founder Adolph Blankenhorn), VDP-classified premium wines (Ortswein through GROSSES GEWÄCHS), ECOVIN-certified organic/PIWI wines, VDP.Sekt sparkling wines, alcohol-free alternatives, the Grüne Weinbox bag-in-box, Mehrwegflaschen reusable bottles, magnum formats, Edelsüß sweet wines, and archived vintages, all sold under VDP, ECOVIN, and (since 2025) FairChoice certifications.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer model combining two physical vinotheks (Freiburg headquarters and Blankenhornsberg estate), a Shopware-powered e-commerce site at staatsweingut-freiburg.de, a Wednesday local delivery service in the Freiburg area, and international B2B shipping to Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway, and Japan. Pricing spans €6.80–€15.50 for standard Klassiker wines and €19–€40+ for premium VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS wines, with curated Probierpakete discovery packages at €35, gift vouchers in €25/€50/€100 denominations, and adjacent experiential revenue from weekly and seasonal wine tastings, group events, and venue rental (Raummiete). The customer base consists of individual wine enthusiasts (primary), corporate gifting buyers, and private event hosts, with no anchor enterprise accounts. The organization is led by Dr. Bettina Frank-Renz and staffed by cellar masters Benedikt Jehle and Werner Scheffelt.

Commercially, the winery's differentiation rests on four reinforcing assets: the PIWI/institute integration (which competitors cannot access at the same depth), VDP and ECOVIN/FairChoice regulatory credentials, premium terroir sites (notably Doktorgarten Winklen VDP.GROSSE LAGE and Schlossberg near the Freiburger Münster), and a multi-channel DTC stack built around the brand. Recent strategic activity has concentrated on sustainability certification (FairChoice 2025), recurring event programming ('12 Weine braucht das Jahr!'), collaborative category-building (the Tamino PIWI consortium of nine Baden wineries), and incremental SKU expansion into alcohol-free and bag-in-box formats. As a state entity, the winery is not venture-backed and has no public listing; revenue figures are not disclosed.

Name

State Winery Freiburg

Legal name

Staatsweingut Freiburg

Website

https://staatsweingut-freiburg.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1842

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Staatsweingut Freiburg is a state-owned German winery operated by Land Baden-Württemberg through the State Wine Institute, producing VDP-classified and ECOVIN organic wines from 37 hectares of Baden vineyards for direct-to-consumer sales via two vinotheks and an online shop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Winery / Wine Production

NAICS

Wineries (31213)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB)

Keywords

• Wine production
• Organic viticulture
• Premium German wines
• Wine tasting events
• PIWI grape varieties

Headquarters

HQ city

Freiburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Wine Sales: Direct retail sales of wines through online shop and physical vinotheks. Includes still wines (red, white, rosé), sparkling wines (Sekt), premium VDP wines, and organic/bio wines. One-time transaction model with per-bottle and package pricing.
2. Gift Vouchers: Gift certificates available in €25, €50, €100 denominations plus custom values. Redeemable for events, wine tastings, and wine purchases in vinotheks and online shop.
3. Wine Tastings and Events: Revenue from wine tasting sessions, group tours, and event bookings at vinotheks. Includes public weekly tastings, private group events, and seasonal special events.
4. Raummiete (Venue Rental): Rental of vinothek spaces for private celebrations and events including catering and wedding planning services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Staatsweingut Freiburg is a state-owned winery that produces and directly sells wines from 37 hectares of vineyards located across Freiburg and Ihringen am Kaiserstuhl. The portfolio spans entry-level Klassiker still wines (white, red, rosé, Sekt), VDP-classified premium wines (VDP.ORTSWEIN through VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS), organic PIWI-based wines under ECOVIN certification, the Grüne Weinbox bag-in-box range, reusable Mehrwegflaschen, magnum formats, Edelsüß dessert wines, and aged Archivweine. Distribution is conducted through the company's own online shop, two physical vinotheks, local delivery in the Freiburg area, and selected international shipping to commercial customers.

Product overview

Staatsweingut Freiburg operates as an integrated winery and direct-to-consumer e-commerce business, combining wine production with a Shopware-powered online shop and two physical vinotheques (wine boutiques). The product portfolio is anchored by the core Staatsweinkeller label (entry-level everyday wines including the Professor Blankenhorn series), supplemented by VDP-classified premium wines (Ortswein, Erste Lage, Großes Gewächs), organic/PIWI wines certified by ECOVIN (Bacat, Tamino, Souvignier Gris, Cabernet Cortis), and the sustainable Grüne Weinbox bag-in-box range. Adjacent offerings include wine tasting experiences (weekly tastings, group events, seasonal festivals), vineyard sponsorship (Rebpatenschaft), venue rental, and gift packaging (wooden boxes) with gift vouchers. The winery’s research-driven identity is reflected in its PIWI Rebsorten and the integration with the State Wine Institute Freiburg.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Klassiker wines (white, red, rosé, Sekt) Core wine portfolio of whites, reds, rosés, and sparkling wines (Sekt) at accessible price points (€6.80–15.50), positioned as everyday drinking wines, sold to individual consumers via the online shop and vinotheks.
• Probierpakete (Discovery packages) Curated 6-bottle tasting packages in reusable bottles at €35, enabling new customers to discover the winery's range across multiple varietals at a discounted bundle price with savings of approximately 22.57% versus individual bottle pricing.
• Alcohol-free wines (Alkoholfrei) Alcohol-free still wine, sparkling wine, and cuvée alternatives (Wein alkoholfrei 0.0%, Blanc alkoholfrei 0.0%, Cuvée Blanc alkoholfrei 0.0%) produced under the Staatsweinkeller label for consumers seeking non-alcoholic options.
• VDP-classified premium wines Premium wines classified under the VDP quality system, spanning VDP.GROSSE LAGE (Grand Cru), VDP.ERSTE LAGE (Premier Cru), VDP.ORTSWEIN (village wine), and VDP.SEKT premium sparkling wine, with prices from €19 to €40+ per bottle, targeted at connoisseurs and gift buyers.
• Organic/PIWI wines (Bioweine) Organic wines produced from PIWI (fungus-resistant) grape varieties including Cabernet Cortis, Souvignier Gris, Prior, and Monarch, ECOVIN-certified under DE-ÖKO-039, with reduced pesticide requirements, targeted at sustainability-oriented consumers.
• Grüne Weinbox (Bag-in-Box) 2.25L bag-in-box wines available in white, rosé, and red styles from organic grapes in recyclable packaging that protects wine from light and air and preserves freshness for up to 8 weeks after opening, priced from €12.90 to €19.95.
• Mehrwegflaschen (Reusable bottles) 0.5L reusable wine bottles designed for multiple-use cycles to reduce single-use packaging waste, part of the winery's sustainability program and circular packaging initiative.
• Magnum bottles (Magnumflaschen) 1.5L magnum-format wine bottles including VDP.Sekt and premium varietal wines in larger format suited for aging and special occasions.
• Edelsüß (Premium sweet wines) Premium noble sweet (Edelsüß) wines including dessert-style selections, representing the winery's specialty sweet wine offering for connoisseurs and gift purchases.
• Archivweine (Archive wines) Archived mature wines from the winery's cellar reserves, stored under optimal conditions and sold as aged vintages for collectors and connoisseurs.
• Staatsweinkeller wines (entry-level line) The Staatsweinkeller entry-level wine line offering approachable everyday wines including the Spätburgunder, Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder, Rosé Bio, Bacat Rot/Weiß, Tamino, Souvignier Gris, Cabernet Cortis, and the Professor Blankenhorn series honoring founder Adolph Blankenhorn.
• Pino Magma (Kaiserstuhl) PINQ MAGMA KAISERSTUHL regional wine project producing distinctive wines that reflect the unique volcanic terroir of the Kaiserstuhl area, leveraging PIWI grape varieties within a multi-winery initiative.
• Rebpatenschaft (Vineyard sponsorship) A vineyard sponsorship program where supporters adopt individual grapevines for an annual fee, fostering a personal connection to the winery's viticulture, the Staatliches Weinbauinstitut Freiburg research, and the resulting wines.
• Weinproben (Wine tasting experiences) Wine tasting experiences including weekly public tastings in Freiburg, private group tastings, vineyard tours, and seasonal events such as the '12 Weine braucht das Jahr!' after-work event scheduled on the 12th of each month from April to October (17:00–21:00).
• Vinothek Retail (Freiburg and Blankenhornsberg) Wine retail and tasting experiences at two on-site venues: Vinothek Freiburg (architecturally awarded, central Freiburg) and Vinothek Blankenhornsberg (at the Ihringen Kaiserstuhl estate); provides personalized consultation, wine tasting, and product sales.
• Raummiete (Venue rental) Event venue rental at the winery premises (Vinothek Freiburg and Vinothek Blankenhornsberg) for private celebrations, weddings, and corporate events, with optional catering and wedding planning services through partner companies.
• Gutscheine (Gift vouchers) Gift vouchers available in fixed denominations (€25, €50, €100) or custom values, redeemable for wine purchases, wine tastings, and events at both vinotheques and the online shop.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1st place at Burda Weintest for Spätburgunder Blankenhornsberg Doktorgarten Winklen VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS 2020
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Weinbauinstitut Freiburg (State Wine Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntegrated state research institute developing PIWI grape varieties and conducting viticulture research. The winery is an integral part of the institute, enabling immediate implementation of research findings and direct collaboration with researchers.
• VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of German Prädikat Wine Estates since 2003. Provides quality certification, classification system (VDP.GROSSE LAGE, VDP.ORTSWEIN, etc.), and market positioning for premium German wines.
• fuchs.maucher.architekten.bdaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm responsible for designing the award-winning Vinothek Freiburg, which received the Architekturpreis Wein 2022.
• Vermögen und Bau Baden-Württemberg, Amt FreiburgminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerState construction and property management authority for Baden-Württemberg. Partnered on planning and implementation of Vinothek Freiburg facility.
• GfRs mbHminorOthersOrganic certification body (DE-ÖKO-039) providing inspection and certification services for organic wine production per EU Regulation 834/2007.
• WeinSüden (Tourismus Baden-Württemberg)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine tourism initiative of Tourismus Baden-Württemberg, promoting wine experiences in southern Germany.
• Tamino Collaborative Producers (9 Baden Wineries)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNine Baden wine producers collaborating under the Tamino brand to produce PIWI-based wines. Awarded Fair Wine Award 2023 for the 2020 vintage. Each producer composes their own cuvée from at least 85% robust grape varieties.
• Landesoberkasse Baden-WürttembergminorOthersState treasury office handling payment processing for the winery as a state institution.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Weingut Clemens Busch: VDP Mosel estate with organic certification and PIWI experimentation, alongside traditional Riesling. Comparable on VDP membership, organic sustainability focus, and small-to-mid scale estate structure.
• Weingut Bernhard Huber: Highly regarded Baden VDP winery specializing in Spätburgunder and premium white wines from comparable terroir. Closely matches Staatsweingut Freiburg on region, varietal mix, and quality-tier positioning.
• Weingut Karl H. Johner: Baden-based VDP estate with similar Spätburgunder and Burgundian varietal focus, plus on-site tasting room and DTC sales. Comparable scale and premium positioning to Staatsweingut Freiburg.
• Hessische Staatsweingüter Kloster Eberbach: German state-owned winery in Hesse operating under a near-identical institutional model: state ownership, vinothek retail, tasting events, and premium wine production. The closest institutional peer to Staatsweingut Freiburg.
• Weingut Franz Keller: VDP member and Baden-based premium winery with comparable vineyard holdings and direct-to-consumer vinothek operations in the same region. Most directly comparable on geography, VDP classification, and DTC retail model.
• Weingut Wittmann: VDP member and certified organic (Ecovin/Naturland) Rheinhessen estate. Directly comparable on sustainability certifications, organic viticulture practices, and premium-tier positioning.
• Weingut Emrich-Schönleber: Nahe-based VDP estate focused on Riesling and premium dry wines with on-site tasting and DTC. Comparable on VDP premium classification and DTC business model, though in a different German wine region.

Broad incumbents

• Weingut Dönnhoff: Premier VDP estate in the Nahe with international reputation and broader distribution reach. Comparable on quality classification and premium pricing, though larger and more internationally distributed than Staatsweingut Freiburg.
• Weingut Markus Molitor: High-profile Mosel VDP producer with international distribution and three-tier classification system. Comparable on premium pricing and VDP positioning but materially larger and more globally distributed than Staatsweingut Freiburg.

Regional players

• Badischer Winzerkeller: Large Baden wine producer cooperative serving the same regional market with broader product range. Comparable on geography and grape varietal mix but operates at materially larger scale than Staatsweingut Freiburg.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/staatsweingutfreiburg
• Instagraminstagram.com/staatsweingut_freiburg
• Xx.com/freiburgerweine

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about State Winery Freiburg