Location and landscape
Bad Mergentheim lies on the Tauber in the Main-Tauber district in the north-eastern part of Baden-Württemberg. The town belongs to the Middle Tauber Valley and to the natural region of Tauberland. The deeply incised Tauber valley lies at an altitude of about 200 metres and is shaped by hills and high plateaus such as Drillberg, Ketterberg and Roggenberg. Markelsheim, the largest district, is about 6.6 kilometres from the town centre in the Tauber valley at an altitude of about 238 metres.
Climate and geology
Bad Mergentheim has a humid temperate climate with a continental influence. The average annual temperature is about 10.5 °C, and the average annual precipitation is about 650 millimetres. The location in the Tauber valley and the comparatively low altitude favour a locally rather dry climate. In geological terms, the area belongs to the South German escarpment landscape. Muschelkalk shapes Tauberland; on the slopes, among other things, Rendzinen, calcareous weathering clays, Terra fusca and Brown Earths can be found.
Viticulture in Markelsheim
For Markelsheim, viticulture has been documented since 1096. The district is a wine village and a state-recognised resort. The roughly 190 hectares of vineyard area of the Markelsheim cooperative lie in the Württemberg winegrowing region and in the Großlage Tauberberg. Among the individual sites designated there are the Mönchsberg and the Propstberg. The site Alte Burg is listed in the biotope plan as a slope and terraced site in the Dainbach area.
Grape varieties and wine styles
In Markelsheim, among others, Müller-Thurgau, Silvaner, Riesling, Grauburgunder and Weißburgunder, Kerner, Traminer, Schwarzriesling, Trollinger, Lemberger, Spätburgunder and Tauberschwarz are documented. Wines from the Mönchsberg include Müller-Thurgau and Schwarzriesling, while the Propstberg produces Silvaner and Riesling wines. The range includes dry, semi-dry and sweet white wines, Kabinett and Spätlese, red wines, Weißherbst, rosé and Schiller wine. Silvaner is described as a traditional Taubertal variety, producing elegant, delicately fruited wines with mild acidity.
