Location and landscape
Uettingen is located in Franconia. The Uettinger Kirchberg lies north of the town, above the Aalbachtal valley and the Bundesstraße 8. The wine-growing area comprises two parcels on the Kirchberg. The slopes face south-west, run gently and are strongly exposed to the sun.
Soil and wine-growing history
The Kirchberg lies on the Franconian plateau, where Muschelkalk overlies red Bunter sandstone. The transition between these rock types is used for wine-growing on the Kirchberg and on the heights of the Hessnert. Wine-growing has been documented in Uettingen since the early Middle Ages. The Holzkirchen monastery and later the Counts of Wertheim secured wine through annual dues.
Historical development
At the beginning of the 17th century, seven Uettinger wine sites, including the Kirchberg, are recorded. In the middle of the 19th century, about 46 hectares in Uettingen were used for wine-growing. Towards the end of the 19th century, wine-growing declined, among other things in connection with the spread of the phylloxera; the last vineyard on the Kirchberg was cleared in 1921. The first harvest in the revived Uettingen vineyard was celebrated in 1979.
Grape varieties and cultivation
For the Uettinger Kirchberg, Müller-Thurgau, Kerner and Domina are documented as important grape varieties. On the Kirchberg and on the Hessnert, Bacchus, Silvaner, Perle, Ortega and Weißburgunder are also cultivated. The Uettinger wine sites, including the Kirchberg, are farmed by several winegrowers.
