Schloss Johannisberg

Schloss Johannisberg: The Cradle of Riesling Culture Schloss Johannisberg is more than just a winery; it is a monument to viticultural history. Located in the heart of Germany’s Rheingau region, it is widely recognized as the first vineyard in the world to be planted exclusively with Riesling, making it an essential destination for any true wine connoisseur. A Millennial Legacy With winemaking traditions dating back to the year 1100, Schloss Johannisberg has spent over 900 years at the forefront of European viticulture. Originally founded as a Benedictine monastery, the estate underwent a historic transformation in 1720 when it was planted entirely with Riesling. This move forever linked the estate to the noble grape, establishing the global standard for the variety. The Home of the "Spätlese" Discovery Schloss Johannisberg is famously credited with the accidental discovery of Spätlese (Late Harvest) wine in 1775. As the story goes, a courier carrying the official permission to start the harvest was delayed for weeks. By the time he arrived, the grapes were affected by "noble rot" (Botrytis). The monks harvested them anyway, discovering that the resulting wine was intensely sweet and complex—a style that revolutionized German winemaking. Terroir and the 50th Parallel The estate’s vineyard is a single 50-hectare south-facing slope situated directly on the 50th parallel north. The Soil: A unique combination of Taunus quartz and loess, which provides the wines with a distinct flinty minerality and exceptional structure. The Microclimate: The proximity to the Rhine River acts as a thermal reservoir, protecting the vines and allowing the grapes to reach optimal ripeness even in the cool German climate. The Iconic Color-Coding (The "Seal" System) Schloss Johannisberg is famous for its unique classification system, which uses colored wax seals (capsules) to denote the different quality levels of its wines: Gelblack (Yellow Seal): Quality wine (Qualitätswein), fresh and fruit-forward. Rotlack (Red Seal): Kabinett, elegant and light. Grünlack (Green Seal): Spätlese, the legendary late harvest style. Silberlack (Silver Seal): Grosses Gewächs (Dry Grand Cru), the pinnacle of dry Riesling. Goldlack (Gold Seal): Trockenbeerenauslese, the rare and luscious dessert wine. Why Schloss Johannisberg is a Must-Know For users of GrapeYear, Schloss Johannisberg represents the ultimate intersection of history and quality. Under the shadow of its majestic palace, the estate continues to produce wines that are celebrated for their longevity, precision, and ability to age for decades, consistently ranking among the best white wines in the world.