Location and landscape
Wertheim lies in the Main-Tauber district in Baden-Württemberg, at the confluence of the Tauber and the Main. As the north-easternmost town in Baden-Württemberg, Wertheim is located between Frankfurt and Würzburg. The area comprises river valleys, valley slopes and higher-lying vineyards.
Viticulture and natural region
Wertheim belongs to the Tauberfranken wine-growing region within Baden. The vineyards are located mostly on south-facing slopes near the Tauber and its side valleys, at heights of around 170 to 340 metres. Geologically, the area lies at the transition between the Buntsandstein of the Spessart and Muschelkalk of the Franconian Plateau; the hard Upper Buntsandstein in particular shapes many steep slopes along the Tauber and the Main.
Wertheim vineyards
The town area includes the wine-growing localities of Dertingen, Lindelbach and Reicholzheim. Among others, the Dertingen Mandelberg is documented, the Lindelbach site Ebenrain and the Reicholzheim Satzenberg. Other Wertheim vineyard sites are First, Josefsberg, Kemelrain, Schloßberg and Sonnenberg.
Grape varieties and vinification
Documented Wertheim wines are produced from Müller-Thurgau, Silvaner, Riesling, Weißburgunder and Spätburgunder. A dry Spätburgunder from Ebenrain consists of 100 per cent Spätburgunder and is designated as Tauberfranken, Wertheim (Baden). A Riesling from Sonnenberg consists of 100 per cent Riesling. Documented vinification includes spontaneous fermentation, longer ageing on fine lees in stainless steel, and for the Ebenrain Spätburgunder 24 months in French barriques without filtration. In the 16th century, viticulture in Wertheim was a main profession.
