The oldest reference to the “First” vineyard in the Tauber Valley comes from a document dating back to 1476 (“Fyerst”). Right next door is Bronnbach Monastery, founded by Cistercians from Burgundy.
The south-facing single vineyard “First” covers 19 hectares and rises gently to an altitude of 300 m, with a slope of 20 to 25%. The rock is Lower Muschelkalk with a high stone content and wave limestone. Even today, fossils of marine creatures can be found in the vineyard, which means that the vines are well supplied with minerals. The fact that the Muschelkalk soils warm up quickly but cool down very slowly is also good for viticulture. The light-colored soil promotes the reflection of the sun's rays and enhances the color intensity of the red wine grapes.
A forest has been planted on the crest of the slope to protect against cold east winds and create a better microclimate. With around 1,370 hours of sunshine during the growing season, the “First” is sun-kissed, but severe winters and late frosts cause damage from time to time. The “First” lies in the rain shadow of the Odenwald, so it can get very dry in summer and the vines have to root deep to reach the necessary water in the deep crevices and fissures. This in turn makes the wines mineral-rich, powerful, and very long-lasting.
Shell limestone soils are considered worldwide to be the best and most distinctive soils for Burgundy varieties.
