Location and climate
Bamberg lies in the Regnitz valley within the landscape of the Main-Regnitz valley and belongs to Franconia. The city is bordered, among other areas, by the Michelsberg Forest and the Altenburg. The Main-Regnitz floodplain is considered a comparatively warm and dry climatic area. The average temperatures over the year are usually about 8 to 9 °C, and annual rainfall is up to around 750 millimetres. The growing season lasts approximately 230 to 240 days.
Relief and soils
The urban area comprises a steep western valley slope and hilly terrain. The surrounding countryside is predominantly shaped by mid and upper Keuper formations, including Burg sandstone, Feuerletten and Rhaetian sandstone. In parts of the Michelsberg Forest and the Altenburg, Lias sandstone lies above these formations.
Historic winegrowing
On the south-facing slope of the St. Michael monastery complex, wine was already being grown in the Cameraden vineyard in the 12th or 13th century. Many former areas under viticulture were later used differently for climatic or economic reasons. Professional winegrowing in Bamberg was then suspended for around two centuries.
Michaelsberg vineyard
The Michaelsberg lies on the sunny south-facing slope of the former St. Michael monastery complex on Keuper soils. For the Bavarian State Horticultural Show 2012, it was cultivated again. The current area covers about 0.86 hectares and is managed by a regional winemaker on behalf of the Bürgerspitalstiftung Bamberg. It grows Silvaner, which is marketed as wine from the Michaelsberg.
The vineyard concept provided for extensive, nature-oriented cultivation. This included, among other things, disease-resistant grape varieties, the planned avoidance of fungicides, pest control using pheromones, species-rich vegetation in alternating rows of vines, winter greening, and fertilisation based on soil analyses. Orchard areas at the edges were intended to be preserved as habitat for cavity-nesting birds and bats.
