Location and climate
Ilsfeld lies in the Schozach valley between the Löwenstein Hills and the Neckar valley. The landscape is shaped by vineyards and belongs to the wine-growing region Württemberg. A documented site in Ilsfeld is part of the Kraichgau and Neckar basin climatic district. There, the average annual temperature is about 10 °C and the annual precipitation is about 750 mm; the prevailing wind directions are south and west.
Wine-growing in Schozach
Schozach is an incorporated constituent community of Ilsfeld and is described by the municipality as a wine-growing place. The vineyards around Schozach show, in places, slopes of up to 45 percent. A documented plot in the Vordere Rappen area has a slope of 3 percent and consists of stone-free kiesel keuper.
Vineyard sites and grape varieties
The Ilsfeld vineyard sites include Rappen, Roter Berg, Schelmenklinge, Schloßberg and Sommerberg. Rappen lies on the L 1100 towards Flein near the junction with the Engelsberg farms. The Schozach Rote Berg has been in the sole ownership of the Counts of Bentzel-Sturmfeder since the 19th century. Among others, Lemberger, Spätburgunder, Riesling, Samtrot, Cabernet Dorsa, Grauburgunder, Weißburgunder and Gewürztraminer are grown and developed. The winery produces red and white wines; the red wines mature in wooden casks and are bottled on the premises.
History and vineyard tradition
According to the municipality, Schozach was formed around 800, was mentioned in a document for the first time in 1275 and came to Württemberg in 1368. The family tradition of the Counts of Bentzel-Sturmfeder in Schozach goes back to 1396. Traditional vineyard huts in the Ilsfeld vineyards are used to store tools and provide shelter from the weather; in the past, they also offered accommodation to the vineyard wardens.
