Location and landscape
Michelau im Steigerwald is located in Franconia within the Steigerwald Nature Park. The landscape is shaped by vineyards, woodland and varied agricultural areas used for farming.
Vollburg and vineyards
The town lies at the foot of Vollburg, which is 456 metres high. The elevated vineyard sites include areas around Eulenberg and Huttershügel; the vineyard Vollburg is associated with Michelau.
On the vineyard slopes near Prüßberg, Keuper soils determine the subsoil. The steep location of Vollburg allows the use of machinery only to a limited extent and therefore requires extensive manual labour.
Grape varieties and wines
In the Keuper sites, among others, Bacchus, Silvaner and Müller-Thurgau grow. For Michelau Vollburg bottlings, Scheurebe, Domina, Regent and Rotling are also documented.
Dry Müller-Thurgau and Silvaner, semi-dry Bacchus Kabinett and Rotling Spätlese, as well as dry Regent Auslese are proven. The Vollburg wines are traditionally matured on-site in the estate itself.
Historical reference
On the elevated plateau of Vollburg there was an early medieval fortification, which was mentioned in 1161 in a Würzburg donation document to the Ebrach Abbey under the name Volcburg. Winegrowing has been handed down in Michelau since earlier times and developed from producing for own consumption into a main source of income for a family.
