Location and landscape
Schöntal is a municipality in the Hohenlohe district in Baden-Württemberg. It lies in the valleys of the Jagst, Kessach and Erlenbach and belongs to the Württemberg region. The municipal area covers 8.166 hectares and lies on average about 245 metres above sea level.
Climate and topography
In the Jagst valley near Schöntal, the average temperatures are slightly above 8 °C, while the annual precipitation is about 750 millimetres. The landscape includes valley meadows, broad alluvial fans, wooded high plateaus and steep slopes facing the sun. The Jagst valley is shaped by pronounced river meanders as well as cut banks and point bars.
Wine-growing history
Historically, the vineyards were concentrated on steep south-facing slopes above the Jagst valley, while flood-prone valley soils were used as meadows. Wine-growing was widespread on the south slopes in earlier times and is documented in many places up to the late 19th century. An older vineyard near Schöntal was cultivated until around 1960.
Key Hill near Bieringen
The tradition of wine-growing is continued at the Key Hill to the west of Bieringen through a new planting. The vines grow there on shell limestone soils. White and red grape varieties are harvested from the vineyard area. Key Hill is designated as a single vineyard (Einzellage) of Bieringen within the grand vineyard (Großlage) of Kocherberg in the wine-growing region of Württemberg.
