Location and landscape
Ramsthal is a wine-growing community in a side valley of the Franconian Saale in the Bad Kissingen district. The place lies on the edge of the Rhön Biosphere Reserve and belongs to the wine region Franconia. The vineyards comprise steep sites and are surrounded by wooded hills.
The location of St. Klausen
The vineyard St. Klausen is characterised by vineyards on higher ground and panoramic views. Shell limestone forms the dominant geological basis. For the site, an average of 9.2 °C is given, about 1 °C less than in the Main valley. Under wine law, it is in the Franconian Saalestück area and in the Großlage Burg Großlage (Hammelburg).
Wine growing and history
A document from the year 1122 mentions a plot with vineyards in Ramsthal. In earlier times, the area of vines reached 56 hectares, but due to vine diseases it fell to less than half by 1920 and, after the land consolidation in 1980, it developed again to around 35 hectares of productive vineyards. In the St. Klausen area, a stake vineyard recalls old vine varieties and historical training methods.
Grape varieties and wine style
The documented white grape varieties include Müller-Thurgau, Silvaner, Bacchus, Grauburgunder and Kerner. For the red varieties, Domina, Schwarzriesling and Regent are recorded; in addition, Morio Muskat is grown as a rare local grape variety. With Ramsthal St. Klausen, dry wines are associated with Silvaner, Grauburgunder and Weißer Burgunder. The regional style is described as Franconian-dry, usually with less than 4 g/l residual sugar.
