Location and landscape
Marbach am Neckar is located in the district of Ludwigsburg in Baden-Württemberg, around 20 kilometres north of Stuttgart and above the Neckar. The town belongs to the Neckar basin and features hilly terrain in the surrounding area of the Swabian-Franconian Forest Mountains. Vineyards and orchards surround the settlement; the climate in the Neckar basin is considered warm.
Viticulture on the Neckar
The vineyards of Marbach form part of the Württemberg wine-growing region. Viticulture on the Neckar is predominantly characterised by terraced steep slopes; the regionally prevailing vineyard soil is known as Muschelkalk. The town’s named sites include the Kelterberg and the Neckarhälde.
Grape varieties and wine styles
Trollinger is the most widely grown grape variety among the winegrowers of Marbach. Other documented varieties include Riesling, Lemberger and Muscat Trollinger. The wines include light, fresh Trollinger, Riesling with lively acidity and fine fruit, as well as Trollinger-Lemberger with a more pronounced tannin and acid structure. The products are designated as Württemberg Qualitätswein.
History and development
A grapevine motif in Marbach’s coat of arms has been documented since at least 1547. In the district of Rielingshausen, the press and viticulture have been documented since around 1350; the present-day press dates from 1718 and houses a museum about local wine-growing and village life. A Trollinger from the terraced steep slope Ludwigsburger Neckarhälde is produced from hand-selected grapes, fermented on the skins, and matured for 16 months in barrique casks. In addition, an extra-dry Riesling sparkling wine is made using bottle fermentation.
