Schloss Johannisberg is undoubtedly Germany's most prestigious winery and incredibly famous for its Rieslings. It's also the oldest Riesling winery in the world, having been producing wine there since 817 and having been 100% Riesling-only since 1720. Centrally located in the Rheingau, it boasts a rich history. Originally a monastery, it later became a castle. Elegant wines are produced here, developing beautiful balance and smoothness with age.
The winery covers fifty hectares, facing due south. It's a quartzite hillside in the Taunus Mountains. With a slope of 45 degrees, the hill rises to 182 meters above sea level, offering the grapes perfect sunshine. The Schloss Johannisberg vineyard is located precisely on the 50th parallel north. The large temperature differences between day and night are particularly beneficial for developing the grapes' aromatic and flavor components.
They also have their own 300-hectare forest north of Schloss Johannisberg. The oak wood from the area is used as raw material to make the wooden barrels used in wine production. The natural texture of the wood, its structure, and the ingredients influence the character and quality of the Riesling.
The grapes for this wine are hand-picked and then rigorously selected. The finest juice is transformed into a grand wine, offering aromas of fresh pineapple, passion fruit, nectarine, and yellow melon, refined with a delicate hint of honey. This Spatlese Greenlack is much fuller-bodied than its younger brother, the Gelblack, a beautiful combination of freshness and subtle sweetness. The palate displays a firm structure with a mineral undertone and a long finish, dominated by citrus. What a full-bodied wine!
