Location and classification
Altenberg is the single-vineyard officially designated as Theilheim–Altenberg in Theilheim in the Würzburg district, Bavaria, within the winegrowing region Franconia. The roughly 18-hectare site lies predominantly to the west of the town, above State Road 2272, in the Neuer Berg area. Smaller parcels are located near the town centre and on the Kirchberg.
Relief and soils
The parcels are oriented to the south. The Jakobsbach has cut the surrounding valley into the Franconian shell limestone plateau; the valley slopes rise by about 60 metres. The site is shaped by shell limestone and corresponding soils. No land consolidation took place: hedges, shrubs, trees, old vineyard walls, hollow ways and stone piles divide up the areas.
Cultivation and grape varieties
For the site, among others, Müller-Thurgau, Silvaner, blue Silvaner, Riesling, white Burgundy, Domina, Frühburgunder, Spätburgunder, Portugieser, Regent and Scheurebe have been documented. Farming operations focus on organic, or nature-oriented, viticulture; one operation also documents cultivation with reduced yields to support the ripening of the grapes. For wines from the shell limestone slope, one operation describes a mineral character. Gentle processing and longer ageing before release are also documented.
Wine-law designation
Theilheim–Altenberg is listed in the official Bavarian vineyard classification as a single vineyard and is assigned to the gross-vineyard Randersackerer Ewig Leben.
