Sulzfeld am Main and its vineyard sites
Sulzfeld am Main is a wine-growing community in the Lower Franconian district of Kitzingen. It lies on the River Main in the Maindreieck landscape and belongs to the wine region Franken. The documented vineyard sites include the Sulzfelder Cyriakusberg, the Sulzfelder Maustal, and the Sulzfelder Sonnenberg.
Sites and soils
The Maustal lies on the Main slopes south of Sulzfeld and forms a large, amphitheatre-like slope system. The south to south-easterly aspect, altitudes of about 190 to 235 metres, and gradients of up to 60 percent shape the site. The soil consists of poor, stony-rich Upper Muschelkalk. The Sonnenberg is a south-facing slope west of Sulzfeld with views across the Main valley; parts of the site, according to information from a local producer, extend beyond 260 metres. There, Muschelkalk lies beneath Keuper, in places with bands of yellow limestone. At the Cyriakusberg, Lettenkeuper and shallow soils over Muschelkalk limestone blocks are documented.
Grape varieties and wine style
In the Maustal, Silvaner, Riesling and Spätburgunder grow; the sub-plot managed as VDP.GROSSE LAGE covers four hectares. For the Sonnenberg, Silvaner, Chardonnay and Frühburgunder are documented. In the vineyards Maustal and Cyriakusberg, Müller-Thurgau, Bacchus, Kerner, Scheurebe, Traminer, Dornfelder and Domina are also grown. The wines from Muschelkalk soils are described as mineral, finely structured, characteristic, elegant and firm. A Maustal Silvaner is associated with power, intensity, fine acidity and structure, while Maustal Riesling and Spätburgunder are regarded as taut, cool and long-lasting.
History and classification of sites
The name Cyriakusberg is linked to the St Cyriacus massacre, which took place on 8 August 1266 near Sulzfeld. Until the secularisation, Sulzfeld belonged to the Prince-Bishopric of Würzburg; the documented history of the village goes back roughly a thousand years. In the Bavarian vineyard register, Maustal and Cyriakusberg are assigned to the MainSüden area and the Großlage Hofrat. The Sonnenberg is listed as a separate single vineyard without Großlage classification.
