Bönnigheim is a wine-growing village south of Heilbronn, just west of the Neckar river in the Württemberg region of Germany. It is built on flat land, and is partially protected from the elements by the Stromberg mountain range to the west. The village has been a site of viticulture for its entire documented history. Like the greater Württemberg region, Bönnigheim is best known for its red wines, though a small proportion of Riesling is also produced. Of the reds the local favorite Lemberger is the most widely planted, along with notable quantities of Spätburgunder.
The Erste Lage Sonnenberg vineyard lies in the foothills of the mountains west of the village. The vineyard itself has a long history, documented in records as early as the 8th Century. The vines are planted on relatively steep slopes at elevations between 590 and 250 feet above sea level and steep gradients. Lemberger again is the most planted variety in Sonnenberg, but the vineyard also has a reputation for producing high-quality Riesling.