Location and classification
The legal designation is Bad Sulzaer Sonnenberg. The wine-growing site is linked with Großheringen, Sonnendorf, Bad Sulza, Bergsulza and Taugwitz and lies on the slopes of the Ilm near Sonnendorf and Bad Sulza. In the cultivation region Saale-Unstrut, it belongs to the Thuringia area and is not assigned to any grand cru site.
Relief and soils
The slopes facing south-southeast reach an incline of up to 30 per cent and are protected from the west. The documented soils are weathered shell limestone, locally very stony, as well as sandy loam with shell-limestone weathering. The official wine-growing site directory records a planted area of 27.3330 hectares as at 31 December 2024.
Grape varieties and wine styles
At Bad Sulzaer Sonnenberg, among others, Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder, Riesling, Traminer, Muskateller, Cabernet Dorsa and Müller-Thurgau are grown. Müller-Thurgau is identified as the main variety in the upper slope area. Dry German quality wines are documented in white, including Weißburgunder as well as cuvées with Riesling or Traminer, and in red, including Frühburgunder and red cuvées.
Cultivation and vinification
In a documented cultivation system, every second vine row is permanently covered with vegetation, while the respective other inter-row is worked on temporarily. A Weißburgunder was prepared with a short maceration time and temperature-controlled fermentation in a stainless-steel tank. A Frühburgunder went through must fermentation and biological acid breakdown and matured for 21 months in small toasted barriques.
