Location and climate
Oberschwarzach is located in Franconia on the western foothills of the Steigerwald in the district of Schweinfurt. Within the municipality, the Schwarzach rises. The climate is moderately warm; the average annual rainfall is about 700 millimetres and increases towards the Steigerwald due to orographic precipitation.
Vineyards and soils
In the eastern part of the municipality there are steep vineyard slopes of the northern Steigerwald. The wine paths run through hilly terrain. The Oberschwarzach Herrenberg is classified as Keuper. The documented soil profile is a nutrient-rich, clay-rich Pelosol formed from silty-clayey weathering of Myophoria layers.
Vines and wine style
A 0.16-hectare historic mixed planting at the Herrenberg is farmed in an environmentally conscious and ecological way; herbs grow between the vines. The planting includes Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Traminer, White Elbling and Red Elbling. Old Silvaner varieties and Rose Muscatel are also preserved, as well as a vine age of up to 150 years. Wines from the clay-rich soil are described as having richness, substance and minerality. A Silvaner from the 2023 vintage was described as a wine from Keuper soil and from the Herrenberg vineyard site.
History and classification
Vineyards already existed around Oberschwarzach in the Middle Ages. From the 12th century onwards, the town was associated with the Lords of Stollberg and in 1236 came under the Prince-Bishopric of Würzburg. In the Bavarian list of vineyard sites, Oberschwarzach-Herrenberg is assigned to the Großlage Steige in the area of Weinpanorama Steigerwald.
