Division 5.1 Specificity of the geographical area

The first official record of hop-growing in the Tettnang region dates back to 1150 (P. Heidtmann, ‘Grünes Gold’, 1994, p 12). The records for 1838 of the then Oberamt Tettnang give the names of 14 breweries (see Memminger’s ‘Beschreibung des Oberamts Tettnang’, 1838, p. 62), three of which were for the town. Three years later, in 1841, this number had risen to six (P. Heidtmann, ‘Grünes Gold’, 1994, p. 13). Their owners grew their hops themselves. The methodical cultivation of hops was introduced in 1844 by district physician Johann Nepomuk von Lentz and eight citizens of the town in an area where climatic conditions made wine-growing less feasible (P. Heidtmann, ‘Grünes Gold’, 1994, p. 15). From 1860 onwards, the hop-growing area expanded, meeting with the older growing region of Altshausen to the north (where hops had been cultivated from around 1821; P. Heidtmann, ‘Grünes Gold’, 1994, p. 14). In 1864, 91 ha were cultivated; this figure rose to 160 ha in 1866, 400 ha in 1875, and 630 ha in 1914; (P. Heidtmann, ‘Grünes Gold’, 1994, p. 22 et seq.). The hop-growing region around Tettnang saw its most significant expansion in the 1990s, when the area cultivated increased to 1 650 hectares (1997 EU hop market report, 1997 HVG producer group report). In the Tettnang region only aromatic hops were selected and grown.

Tettnang hops are grown only on the gravel of the lower terraces formed from the late-moraine till of the Würm glaciation in the Schussen basin, along the River Argen and its ice-age banks. This geological formation with underlying groundwater currents enables the hops to grow roots up to 2 m deep. At the same time, it provides the hops with a constant source of moisture even during periods of extreme drought. The temperate climate here between 400 and 600 m above mean sea level and influenced in part by Lake Constance is another important factor determining the aroma of Tettnang hops.

Tettnang hops are grown in climatic conditions (average annual temperatures, hours of sunshine, precipitation) which are unique. With a temperature of 9,4 °C, almost 1 800 hours of sunshine and 1 136 mm of rain, the average figures recorded during the last 30 years (2009 data) are much higher than those in other growing regions in Germany.