Location and landscape
Dingolshausen is located in North Bavaria in the Schweinfurt district, in the northern Steigerwald and in the wine-growing region Franconia. The municipality lies at an altitude of about 270 metres, at approximately 49°54′ north latitude and 10°24′ east longitude.
Climate and soils
The Franconian wine climate combines maritime and continental influences. It is characterised by warm, dry summers and cold, frosty winters. The annual precipitation amounts to around 500 to 600 millimetres, with summer being comparatively dry and autumn and winter being wetter. The vineyards are established on Keuper soils; the Dingolshausen Köhler is more specifically associated with gypsum Keuper.
Viticulture and vineyard sites
In Dingolshausen there are around 30 hectares of vineyard land spread across several field sites. Among others, Müller-Thurgau, Silvaner, Bacchus, Kerner and Portugieser are grown. The Köhler is the largest contiguous area of vineyard land in the municipality and gives its name to the designation Dingolshäuser Köhler. Documented plots include south- and west-facing rows of up to 200 metres in length as well as deep soils; the associated site Fuchsranken has slopes of up to 45 per cent.
History and wines
Dingolshausen was first mentioned in a document in 1165. Since 1561, the municipal coat of arms has featured a vine with two bunches of grapes. According to the municipality, the name of the Köhler goes back to an old field site, which is considered the first wine-growing plot in the municipality; according to tradition, a Köhler planted the first vines there. The wines are described as full-bodied Steigerwald wines and can be produced as Kabinett, Spätlese or Auslese. Dingolshausen belongs to the geographically defined area of the protected designation of origin Franconia.
