Location and Topography
The Sonnenberg is located in Bönnigheim in the wine-growing region Württemberg at the foot of the Stromberg. The classified vineyard area covers 152 hectares. It extends from 240 to 290 metres in altitude and has slope gradients of 20 to 30 percent. The aspect is predominantly south to south-west.
Soils and Plots
Gipskeuper is listed as the soil type for the Bönnigheim Sonnenberg. Documented sub-areas include sites with Gipskeuper and reed sand (Schilfsandstein). The south-facing plot Kalkschupen has Gipskeuper and weathered limestone soils; there, Spätburgunder vines have been planted since the 1970s.
Grape Varieties and Classification
For the Sonnenberg, Spätburgunder, Lemberger, Trollinger, Riesling and Chardonnay are documented. The Bönnigheimer Sonnenberg is classified in Württemberg as VDP.ERSTE LAGE®. The site is associated with dry wines from Lemberger, Spätburgunder and Chardonnay.
Viticulture and Vinification
For the documented Spätburgunder, yields are reduced by cutting off bunches and by green harvesting. This is followed by several selective hand harvests. The wine is fermented spontaneously after berry selection and gentle processing, then macerated on the skins for a long time in traditional wooden vats and subsequently matured for about twelve months in small wooden casks and a further ten months in large wooden casks.
History
Wine growing in Bönnigheim has been documented as far back as the year 793.
