Schloss Johannisberg

The first Riesling estate in the world with its unique wine culture has a special history, which has evolved over many years. From the beginning of Schloss Johannisberg’s wine history there is the figure of Charles the Great. The myth says that he watched the early snow melting from his palace in Ingelheim. Because of this he was satisfied that this place has a special aptitude for viticulture and planted the first vines there. His son Louis the Pious certified this vineyard on August 4th, 817.

Today the vine area of the single lay of Schloss Johannisberg is 40 hectare and is in monopoly ownership of the viticulture domain Schloss Johannisberg. The 50 latitudinal line runs directly though the vineyard, which is from north ideally protected from cold winds due to the wooded Taunus hills.

In the south there is the river Rhine which lays lake-like at the foot of the mountain. The soil formation is pure Taunus quartzite with topping of middle to profound loess-clays which store water and heat in a very special way.

Depending on the vintage and respective degree of maturity, the Schloss Johannisberg wines ferment in big wooden barrels or in temperature-controlled stainless tanks.

We can defer to vintage differences and can individually react to the characteristics of Riesling depending on the climate conditions of that year.  In consequence of using barrels made from oak wood which grows in our own castle woods, the wines receive authenticity and uniqueness.

Schloss Johannisberg today is making German wine culture testable in creating expressive and incorruptible wines.