Location on the Mainschleife
Nordheim am Main lies on a Main island surrounded by the Main and the Altmain in Franconia. The vineyard area covers about 450 hectares; the municipality describes Nordheim as Franconia’s largest wine-growing community. The climate along the Mainschleife is suitable for traditional Franconian grape varieties as well as for new varieties and red grapes.
Nordheimer Vögelein vineyard
The Nordheimer Vögelein belongs to the municipality’s significant wine locations and runs in a curved shape along the Altmain. The island is characterised by gently undulating terrain. The site is oriented south-west to west, lies at an altitude of 200 to 270 metres and has a slope gradient of 10 to 20 per cent. Documented soils include clay marl weathering material, windblown sands, terrace sands and Muschelkalk.
Grape varieties and ageing
In Nordheim’s vineyards, Silvaner and Müller-Thurgau predominate. For the Nordheimer Vögelein, Riesling, Weißer Burgunder, Scheurebe, Traminer and Rieslaner are also listed as classified grape varieties. The VDP classifies the site as VDP.ERSTE LAGE®; the classified area is 105 hectares. This classification is a VDP classification and not a statement about a legally defined German vineyard classification.
Wines from the Nordheimer Muschelkalk sites are traditionally matured as village wine in stainless-steel tanks and are described as having a fine mineral character. For red wines, mash fermentation and subsequent ageing in large wooden casks from a vaulted cellar are documented.
Historic wine-growing tradition
The documented history of wine-growing in Nordheim dates back to the year 892, when vineyards were gifted to the Münsterschwarzach Abbey. On 21 April 918, King Conrad I confirmed ownership of two vineyards in Nordheim. In the tithe barn, a wine cellar was built in 1764, with a stated storage capacity of about 6,100 hectolitres.
