Location and landscape
Theilheim is located in Franconia, in the natural region of the Gäuplatten in the Main triangle, as part of the Main Franconian plateaus. The municipality lies in the right-hand valley of the Jakobsbach between Biebelried and Randersacker, away from the supra-regional transport corridor in the Main Valley.
Climate and soils
For Theilheim, an average annual precipitation amount of about 600 millimetres and an average annual temperature of about 9 degrees Celsius are given. The municipal area includes hillside and valley locations of the Jakobsbach valley. The documented geological subsoil consists of Upper Muschelkalk with alternating layers of limestone, clay and marl stones as well as fossils. Shallow-rooted Rendzinas developed on top of this in the form of loamy clays with medium water-holding capacity and low water permeability.
History of viticulture
Agriculture and viticulture formed the historical economic foundations of Theilheim. The municipality records viticulture in writing for the first time in 1089; monasteries in the surrounding area had vineyards and arable land.
Vineyard Altenberg
The vineyard Altenberg is located mostly west of Theilheim on the Theilheim cadastral area and is described as a vineyard site facing south. Between the areas under vines, woodland as well as strips of stone and terraces have been preserved, so that there is no uniformly consolidated vineyard area. In the official Bavarian vineyard register, Altenberg is assigned to the municipality of Theilheim in the MainSüden wine-growing region. Vineyard names, as geographical designations for quality and Prädikat wines, must be entered in Bavaria in the official vineyard register; the corresponding grape varieties must originate from the designated area in accordance with the wine-law requirements.
