Location and Landscape
Neuenstein is a town in the Hohenlohe district in Baden-Württemberg and lies on the Hohenlohe Plateau. The town is situated at an elevation of 284 metres; its postal code is 74632. The landscape is characterised by gently rolling agricultural land. On the slopes of the Waldenburg mountains there are vineyards and orchards with views over the Hohenlohe Plateau.
Viticulture in Neuenstein
Neuenstein belongs to the wine-growing sites of the Württemberg region. Vineyards are located in particular near the local subdivisions of Eschelbach and Obersöllbach. On the southern Hohenlohe Plateau, the vines grow on heavy, nutrient-rich and deep Keuper soils. These soils provide good water supply and are linked with characterful wines; sites with gypsum Keuper in the wider Hohenlohe wine region are associated with fuller-bodied wines.
The Castle and History
Neuenstein Castle originated as a Staufer-era water castle on a sandstone outcrop in a swampy area and came into the possession of the Counts of Hohenlohe around 1300. In the 16th century, Count Ludwig Casimir expanded the complex into a Renaissance residence. With its incorporation into the Kingdom of Württemberg, Hohenlohe rule in Neuenstein ended in 1806.
Legal Framework
The vineyard plots in Neuenstein are recorded in the Baden-Württemberg wine register. This official register geographically delineates recognised wine-growing areas; for the Württemberg wine-growing regions, the Stuttgart regional council (Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart) is responsible.
