Location and landscape
Ödheim is situated in the northern part of the district of Heilbronn, in the western area of the natural region of Hohenlohe-Haller Ebene, and along the lower reaches of the Kocher. The municipality belongs to Württemberg. The Kocher cuts through the municipal area in large meanders. Elevations range from about 149 metres along the river to around 245 metres at the Lautenbacher Berg and Seeberg.
Soils and winegrowing
The high plateaus are predominantly covered with loess over Keuper rocks (Unterkeuper) and gypsum Keuper (Gipskeuper) areas. Their loess-loam layers often reach thicknesses of three to seven metres. The Kocher valley is cut into the Upper Muschelkalk; in the valley floor there are more than six metres of floodplain sediments consisting of loamy floodplain soil, floodplain sand and gravel.
The vineyards are located on an outer bend of the Kocher below Falkenstein as well as in the south of the municipality at Seeberg, Lautenbacher Berg, Hofgereuth and Neugereuth. The sites of Hofgereuth, Seeberg, Neugereuth and Lautenbacher Berg together comprise about 40 hectares and are marketed under the single-vineyard site name Kayberg. Kayberg is officially listed as a single vineyard for Ödheim as well as for Binswangen and Erlenbach.
Historical development
Ödheim and Degmarn were occupied by Württemberg on 27 and 28 November 1805 and in 1806 were assigned to the Oberamt of Neckarsulm. On 1 July 1971, Degmarn was incorporated into Ödheim.
At Falkensteiner Hof, Georg Christian Kessler produced sparkling wine according to the Champagne method in the years 1823 to 1826.
