Location and landscape
Thüngersheim lies in the Main valley (Maintal) in the Würzburg district in Franconia. The Main forms the western boundary of the 1,106-hectare municipal area. The municipality is located at the foot of the Muschelkalk and Bunter sandstone slopes of Rotlauf and Etzberg. The relatively dry Main valley as well as sunny slopes facing south shape the natural conditions. The terrain ranges from around 167 metres at the town hall up to 365 metres above sea level.
Viticulture and wine-growing sites
Around 246 hectares of the municipal area are used for winegrowing. The Thüngersheim Johannisberg comprises a classified area of 73 hectares, with a south-west to south-east aspect, altitudes of 190 to 220 metres and slope gradients of 15 to 55 percent. The Thüngersheim Scharlachberg comprises 93 hectares and lies in a south to south-west exposure at 190 to 300 metres above sea level with 30 to 50 percent gradient. Both sites are classified as VDP.ERSTE LAGE®.
Soils and grape varieties
The soils of the Johannisberg consist of Upper Bunter sandstone (Oberer Buntsandstein) and Lower Muschelkalk (Unterer Muschelkalk), and on the Scharlachberg of Bunter sandstone and Lower Muschelkalk. The Thüngersheim Sattel is a tectonic structure in which the Buntsandstein cuts through the overlying Muschelkalk layers. For the Johannisberg, Silvaner, Scheurebe, Riesling, White Burgundy (Weißburgunder), Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris) and Spätburgunder are listed; on the Scharlachberg, Riesling, Silvaner and Müller-Thurgau are grown. As characteristic varieties of the wine village, Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Riesling and Spätburgunder are considered.
History and wine production
Thüngersheim was first mentioned in a document in 1098; the planting of the first vines is given as 1154. The Thüngersheim winegrowing association was formed in 1879. In steep areas of the Johannisberg, most work in the vineyards is carried out by hand. Local wine producers use modern cellar technology; selected Franconian quality wines are stored long-term in the depot of the St.-Michael-cellar.
