Location and climate
Stuttgart lies in the Neckar basin and belongs to the wine-growing region of Württemberg, within which it is part of the Remstal-Stuttgart area. The basin has a mild, sunny city climate. The Black Forest, the Swabian Alb, the Schurwald and the Stromberg-Heuchelberg surround it and influence temperature, precipitation, air humidity and wind.
Terraces and soils
The vineyards are located in the Neckar valley, on the slopes of the basin and on the surrounding hills. In-town sites are often laid out as steep terraces and require extensive manual work. Within the city area there are differences in elevation of up to about 300 metres; historic vineyard terraces shaped the city’s steep stepped layout. Geologically, Keuper sandstones and claystones are found, as well as, locally, Rigosols, i.e. rebuilt vineyard soils.
Wine growing in the city
Wine is grown in 16 of the city’s 23 districts, including near the city centre and along the Neckar. The city’s public estate has been in existence since 1949 and cultivates about 16 hectares of vineyard area, including parts of the site Cannstatter Zuckerle. Since 2017 it has worked without herbicides and is in the process of converting to organic viticulture. The city also supports the preservation and rebuilding of dry-stone walls and vineyard terraces.
Grape varieties and history
The most widely grown grape varieties are Trollinger and Riesling. Trollinger is particularly widespread, among other places, in Abelsberg, Scharrenberg and Lenzenberg, while Riesling achieves above-average shares in Halde, Herzogenberg and Kriegsberg. Wine growing is largely geared towards red wine; in the Württemberg context, Lemberger, Schwarzriesling, Spätburgunder, Kerner and Müller-Thurgau also feature. Wine growing has been documented in the city centre since at least 1108. The wine museum in Uhlbach documents more than 2,000 years of local and regional wine-growing history.
