At the northern extreme on the 50th parallel, the hill of Schloss Johannisberg defies winemaking norms. With a 45-degree slope, quarzite subsoil, and a South-East to South Westerly exposure, this historic estate has been producing wines for over 1200 years. Replanted exclusively with Riesling in 1720, it pioneered Spätlese in 1775, Riesling Auslese in 1787, and Eiswein in 1858.
Under Managing Director Stefan Doktor, the estate embraces a philosophy of retaining acidity over achieving specific sugar levels, infusing energy into their wines for decades of aging. In 2022, Schloss Johannisberg embarked on organic viticulture across the entire vineyard, resulting in wines crafted from organically grown grapes. The vintage, marked by warm, dry conditions, led to delayed fruit development, but careful waiting and meticulous harvest yielded exceptionally high-quality grapes.
While the heat prevented the production of noble sweet wines, the Trocken and Spätlese wines from 2022 are a testament to the estate's unwavering commitment to quality, showcasing the beauty of a historic vineyard that continues to evolve.