Sommerhausen

Sommerhausen lies on the River Main, south of Würzburg, with Winterhausen opposite. The municipality extends through the Middle Main Valley along the Main up to the Gäu flats in the Main triangle. Here the Main has cut down about 100 to 120 metres into the shell limestone; the steep slopes are used for viticulture. Sommerhausen belongs to the wine-growing region Franconia.

The geological foundation is shell limestone formed from sediments of a Triassic sea. At the site, massive blocks of limestone also occur, which can be more than ten metres thick. The Steinbach site is at an elevation of 180 to 240 metres, has up to 60 per cent slope inclination and a predominantly south-facing orientation. Its soil formed from Triassic block limestone.

The Reifenstein site is also at an elevation of 180 to 240 metres. The slope inclination ranges from 15 to 80 per cent, the orientation from south to west. In the subsoil there is block limestone, which is partly covered by the Main’s historical wind-blown sand. The wine-growing climate in the Main valley is described as sunny and warm.

Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe, Weissburgunder and Spätburgunder are documented for Steinbach. Reifenstein is associated with Silvaner, Riesling, Muscatel and Gewürztraminer. In Steinbach and Ölspiel, predominantly white wines are produced, while the cultivation of red grape varieties is increasing. A dry Silvaner from Sommerhäuser Steinbach is considered a characteristic wine style.

The earliest documented sale of wine in Sommerhausen is dated to the year 985. Sommerhäuser Steinbach and Sommerhäuser Reifenstein are classified by the VDP as VDP.ERSTE LAGE; this classification is a private quality system and not a statutory appellation category. The vineyard management of Schloss Sommerhausen has been carried out in a controlled organic manner since 2011. Sparkling wines are produced there since 1982 using traditional bottle fermentation from exclusively their own harvested grapes.