Location and landscape
Gerbrunn lies to the south-east of Würzburg in a basin of the Franconian plateau. The Haslach and its tributaries have cut down by about 30 to 40 metres into the Upper Muschelkalk. Elevations range from approximately 197 to 343 metres above sea level; the town centre is at around 250 metres.
Geological framework and climate
The geological subsoil consists mainly of Upper Muschelkalk and Lower Keuper. In the Haslach valley there are loess-bearing deposits. The Upper Muschelkalk in the Gerbrunn area includes sandstone, dolomite and limestone. The nearby Main Valley near Würzburg is characterised climatically by high summer temperatures, about 600 millimetres of annual precipitation and a vegetation period lasting around 150 days, with mean temperatures above 10 degrees Celsius.
Vine cultivation on the Hummelberg
Since its early history, Gerbrunn has been associated with viticulture and continues to cultivate vines on a comparatively limited scale. The Gerbrunner Hummelberg lies to the east and south-east of the settlement within Gerbrunn’s municipal area and, according to a municipal statement, comprises more than 7.5 hectares. The vineyard is already documented for the year 1764; white and red wines are produced from it.
Historical development and wine law
The name Gerbrunn is first documented in 1107. The historical development of viticulture in the first third of the 19th century was characterised by a marked decline, after which fruit and vegetable growing gained in importance. In the Franconian quality winegrowing region, Gerbrunn–Hummelberg is assigned to the area MainSüden under the designation “großlagenfrei”; certain parcels of the Hummelberg are separately part of the Großlage Ewig Leben.
