Location and terroir
Großheubach lies in the valley of Franconia, below Engelberg Abbey, between the River Main and the foothills of the Spessart Nature Park. The vineyards stretch along steep slopes falling towards the Main. Narrow natural-stone terraces and walls made of Bunter sandstone shape the landscape; the weathered Bunter sandstone soils and the sheltered valley position create a mild microclimate with heat-storing dry-stone walls.
Viticulture in Großheubach
According to the municipality, the winegrowing area comprises around 50 hectares and is made accessible by vineyard paths on both sides of the settlement. Many plots are small as a result of inheritance divisions and are cultivated mainly as a sideline; in addition, there are about twelve larger viticultural holdings. The traditional cultivation of the steep slopes uses natural-stone terraces and dry-stone walls. Where vineyards have been abandoned, terrace and wall systems have remained as defining elements of the landscape.
Grape varieties and vineyard sites
In Großheubach, red and white wines are produced. Documented red grape varieties include Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder, Portugieser and St. Laurent; for white wines, Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Kerner, Bacchus and Riesling. The vineyard register lists, among others, the Bischofsberg, the Engelberg Klostergarten, the Mainhölle and the Steingrübler for Großheubach.
History
Viticulture in Großheubach has been documented since 1254. In 1796, the area under vines covered 101 hectares. After the First World War, the Franciscans at Engelberg Abbey began winegrowing; previously, vegetables and grain had been grown there. The Großheubach Winegrowing Association set up a viticulture teaching trail in 1989 for local grape varieties and cultivation methods.
