Schloss Johannisberg

Johannisberg in the Rheingau is not only known for the castle of the same name, which arose from the ruins of a Benedictine monastery complex. It has been making wine for over 900 years. Since 1720 only Riesling has been cultivated at Schloss Johannisberg and in 1775, the Johannisberg Abbey discovered the advantage of a late harvest, and still today the Rheingau Riesling Spätlese (late harvest) are among the region's best wines. The wines with "First Growth" on the label signify wines come from classified ‘Premier Cru’ sites and are produced and vinified according to very demanding and strict criteria.

Kloster Eberbach Steinberg

A former Cistercian abbey,one of the best preserved medieval monastery complexes in Germany. In front of the monastery gate lies the world-famous Steinberg vineyard, which has been in sole possession of the wine estate since 1239. The vineyard of the Eberbach Monastery, was founded in 1136 by St. Bernard of Clairvaux from Burgundy.

Dr. Loosen

Situated on the Mosel River among some of the world’s most treasured vineyards, the Dr. Loosen estate has been in the same family for more than 200 years. Dr Loosen has joint ventures in Washington and Oregon States. The estate has become a member of the prestigious VDP, Germany’s association of top-rated wine estates, and has been named one of the 10 best estates in Germany by nearly every wine publication worldwide.

Grapes

Riesling thrives particularly well in the dry, stony south-facing slopes. It also survives cold winter days and uses the long ripening period to develop fine fruit acids and aromas. Mosel white grapes account for 86% and in Rheingau 91% of production the majority being Riesling.

Terroir

The warming effects of the Rhine River yields Rieslings with fuller body and richer texture than other regions in Germany. Traditionally the area was known for fruity and noble-sweet wines, but in recent years, production has become dry. Increasingly, traditional-method sparkling wines (sekt), made from Riesling and Champagne varieties (Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay) are trending.

Mosel The Mosel Valley, is a gorge the river carved between the Hunsrück and Eifel hills, and the valleys of its tributaries, the Saar and Ruwer rivers. Optimal warmth and precipitation in the steep sites and valleys. The soils are Clayish slate and greywacke in the northern lower Mosel Valley ; Devonian slate in the steep sites and sandy, gravelly soil in the flatlands of the middle Mosel Valley; primarily chalky shell-limestone soils in the upper Mosel Valley (toward Luxembourg)

Rheingau At 50 degrees north latitude, the Rhine bend and the Rheingau wine-growing region was created on a narrow 30km strip along the Rhine hillside. Mild winters and warm summers; the vineyards are protected from cold winds by the forest-capped Taunus Hills and benefit from the heat-reflecting surface of the Rhine. The wine-growing area is small and filled with diverse soils of chalk, sand, gravel, clay, loess, quartzite and slate.

History

Rheingau is home to the earliest documented plantings of Riesling in 1435, and is still the region’s most noble grape variety. Founded in 1872, the world-renowned oenological research and teaching institute in Geisenheim focuses on viticulture, fruit growing and horticulture as well as grape breeding, wine making and international wine business.

Sekt has a long tradition in Germany. The first sparkling wine houses in the country were already founded at the beginning of the 19th century. According to their own accounts, the Sektkellerei Kessler, founded in 1826 in the small town of Esslingen near Stuttgart, is Germany’s oldest sparkling wine producer. In 1902, Emperor Wilhelm II introduced a sparkling wine tax (Sektsteuer) in order to finance, among other things, his war fleet. 

Mosel / Rheingau Wine Adventures

The wine growing area around the Rhine river has been famous for its Riesling dessert wines for over 500 years. In recent years, winemakers have increasingly been making great dry wines and sparkling wines called Sekt. Sekt has a long tradition going back to the beginning of the 19th century. Frankfurt, Luxembourg and Metz are the ideal starting locations for a 2 or 3 day tour and combine well with a visit to the area around Strasbourg and Colmar on the French side to compare Rieslings and other local varietals.

Multi Region Journeys