Location and landscape
Bönnigheim is located in the Ludwigsburg district in Baden-Württemberg, on the eastern edge of the Stromberg and in the Zabergäu. The town lies in the southern part of the Zabergäu, shaped by loess. In the west and south-west, foothills of the Stromberg are part of the municipal area; the elevated areas are characterised by vineyards and woodland.
Soils and vineyard sites
The outlying parts of the Stromberg consist, among other things, of gypsum Keuper and reed sandstone. In the east there are forms shaped by the Neckar valley with shell limestone; in between, river gravel deposits lie. For vineyard areas, loess-containing flowtill-pararendzina, clay-rich pelosoil-rigosol and gypsum Keuper flowtill are documented. The vineyard sites include Kirchberg, Lerchenberg and Sonnenberg.
In the Bönnigheim Sonnenberg, the classified parcel Schupen lies south-west of the town. It is oriented from south to south-east, is around 265 to 280 metres above sea level, and has a slope gradient of 10 to 20 per cent. The site is considered sheltered from the wind and warms up quickly. Its soils of gypsum Keuper and weathered limestone are rich in lime, contain clay and are heavy.
History of viticulture
Viticulture in Bönnigheim has been documented since the eighth century. A deed dated 16 February 793 mentions the place in connection with a donation of the nun Hilteburg to the Lorsch Abbey. Part of the historical wine-growing infrastructure were separate presses for the joint heirs: The Neipperg press house had two large wooden press beams, while the Gemmingen press house comprised a cellar and three storage rooms.
Grape varieties and wine production
For Bönnigheim, Lemberger, Trollinger, red and white Burgundy varieties, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau and Kerner are documented, among others. A Bönnigheim Sonnenberg Lemberger was described as a dry red wine and fruit-forward wine of the Württemberg type. For a producer, reduced yields, predominantly hand harvesting and mostly spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts are recorded. Red wines were fermented on the mash; in addition, sedimentation instead of filtration and barriques for selected wines were used.
Bönnigheim belongs to the German wine-growing region Württemberg. Wines with a municipal or local designation are subject to German labelling regulations, including a minimum alcohol content corresponding to Kabinett and a release restriction before 15 December of the harvest year. The term “Steillage” requires vineyard areas with at least 30 per cent slope gradient.
