Historical Vineyards: Schloss Johannisberg
I recently had a funny conversation at the wine store I work at. I was hosting a tasting. The wine was delicious, organic, and family owned since the 1850's. This historical fact elicited both excitement and a selling point for me and my American coworker, only to be met by the indifference of a French customer. In an unexpected blunt fashion he replied, albeit with a smile. "I do not care about this... for me, my house in France is older than this winery." Understandably, Europeans have a different standard of what’s old, though I doubt that guy’s house is older than Schloss Johannisberg. These vineyards were first documented in 817!
There's a marked difference between longevity and quality, whose paths rarely intertwine for long. Yet in some enchanting places, they grasp each other tightly. Here is where this bastion of viticulture stands. As I meandered past the gravel road and into the lush vineyards, neatly tucked in by moss-covered stone walls, I fell into a wonderful reverence for the Schloss Johannisberg site.
What makes their wine so special
In the heart of Germany’s Rheingau, their coveted south-facing vineyards offer maximum sun exposure for the vines. The nearby Rhine River also helps to ripen the grapes. This is especially valuable in a northern country such as Germany. Underneath the estate lies the legendary “Bibliotheca Subteranea”: their 900-year-old cellar. It contains over 25,000 wines dating as far back 1748! (Schloss Johannisberg)
Much to my surprise, all of their rieslings are aged in oak barrels, sourced from their local forest. The barrels, when formed, are heated minimally as to prevent strong oak flavors from imparting onto the wine. Wooden barrels are often used to exposes the wine to small amounts of oxygen. This encourages the development of unique flavors and balance in the bottle.
Legends and wines
In addition to the natural conditions Schloss Johannisberg has been gifted, you can’t ignore its immense history. The estate has changed hands hundreds of times since its’ inception, felt the ravages of war, and reaped the fruits of peacetime. In 1720, it became the first enclosed vineyard with only riesling. They also lay claim to producing Germany’s first late harvest wine.
The story goes that in 1775, the vintners would await permission to harvest from a local authority some miles away. Turns out, the messenger was a whole two weeks late, and they assumed the harvest would be ruined. Much to their surprise, they got a lusciously sweet wine! Voila.
Closing notes
There is so much more to Schloss Johannisberg, but I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the magnificent estate. On my next post, I will be reviewing one of their bottles that’s been patiently waiting in my wine fridge since the summer. Until then - stay tuned!
