schiller-wine: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Herzog von Württemberg at Schloss Monrepos, with Andrea Ritz, Wine Queen of Württemberg (2016/17) - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Picture: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Herzog von Württemberg at Schloss Monrepos

Following lunch at the 1 Star Michelin Restaurant Gutsschenke Schlosshotel Monrepos, we walked over to Weingut Herzog von Württemberg, our last winery visit on the Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017. See: Lunch at the 1 Star Michelin Restaurant Gutsschenke Schlosshotel Monrepos, with Chef Ben Benasr - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Andrea Ritz, Wine Queen of Württemberg (2016/17), was our host.

Picture: Andrea Ritz, Wine Queen of Württemberg (2016/17) (Photo: Facebook)

The House of Württemberg is a German dynasty and a former Royal family. Today, the Württemberg family still owns the castles Monrepos (where we went), Altshausen and Friedrichshafen.

Winemaking at the House of Württemberg goes back to the 13th century. Their vineyard sites are in the most prestigious parcels in Württemberg and tasting the Herzog von Württemberg portfolio is a high-class journey through the best of the best that the Württemberg wine region has to offer. Owner is H.R.H. Carl Herzog von Württemberg and he makes sure that old tradition and modern knowledge go hand in hand to produce outstanding wines.

Pictures: Arriving at Weingut Herzog von Württemberg

In 1981 a new, modern winery was constructed in the park of the beautiful Castle Monrepos, the royal family of Württemberg’s lakeside weekend and hunting retreat.

Picture: Schloss Monrepos

Wine Region Württemberg

Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 German states that make up Germany. Baden-Wuerttemberg is one of the growth centers of Germany due to its booming export industries. Mercedes-Benz and Porsche are prime examples. Baden-Württemberg comprises two wine growing areas, Baden and Württemberg.

Pictures: Sekt Reception at Weingut Herzug von Württemberg with Andrea Ritz, Wine Queen of Württemberg (2016/17)

Wine from Württemberg is mainly red wine. The main production area is along the Neckar River between Stuttgart and Heilbronn. There are also vineyards on Lake Constance that belong to Württemberg.

More wine is consumed here (per capita) than anywhere else in Germany - actually twice as much as in the rest of Germany. The German poet Friedrich von Schiller wrote already several centuries ago: “A Württemberger without wine--is that a real Württemberger?”

Pictures: Tour and Tasting at Weingut Herzog von Württemberg at Schloss Monrepos with Owner Duke Michael of Württemberg and Winemaker Moriz Just. See: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Herzog von Württemberg at Schloss Monrepos with Owner Duke Michael of Württemberg and Winemaker Moriz Just – Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

The Trollinger is the most popular variety, which is grown almost exclusively in Württemberg. It is a nice table wine that goes well with the local food. If you are looking for a premium wine, Lemberger (known as Blaufränkisch in Austria and Kékfrankos in its Hungarian homeland) is the grape variety to go for. The Lemberger made by Weingut Dautel and Weingut Wachstetter, which we had during the tour, can compete with the best red wines in the world.

With 11,000 hectares under vine, Württemberg is Germany's fourth largest wine region. Winemaking cooperatives are very common in Württemberg, number around 70, and are responsible for almost 75% of the region's production.

Wines from Württemberg are hard to find in the US. This is partly explained by the production structure, which is dominated by co-operatives. These co-operatives are known for producing top class wines. But they tend to be less aggressive in terms of penetrating new markets.

Weingut Herzog von Württemberg

Weingut Herzog von Württemberg is located at Schloss Monrepos near Ludwigsburg. While the art of winemaking at the House of Württemberg goes back to the 13th century, the wine estate was established in 1677 only, through the creation of the „Kammerschreiberei-Kellerei“ in Untertürkheim. From the mid-17th century until the late 19th century, the House of Württemberg undertook extensive purchases of vineyards. In the early 1800s, the winery moved into the old palace in the center of Stuttgart. Completed in 1981, the modern winery is located in the romantic park of Schloss Monrepos. In the immediate vicinity is the Schlosshotel Monrepos with 81 hotel rooms, the Restaurant "Gutsschenke" and a golf course. In 2003, the Weingut des Hauses Württemberg Hofkammerkellerei was renamed Weingut Herzog von Württemberg.

Pictures: In the Cellar of Weingut Herzog von Württemberg

Today's owner is S.K.H. (H.R.H.) Carl, Duke of Württemberg, who is represented at the winery through his son Duke Michael. It is the largest private winery in Württemberg. vineyard in the wine-growing region.

The vineyard area totals 40 hectares in the following single vineyards: Berg (Asperg), Brotwasser (Monopole) (Stetten), Eilfingerberg (Maulbronn), Käsberg (Mundelsheim), Kirchberg (Hohenhaslach), Mönchberg (Untertürkheim) as well as Steinbachhof and Wachtkopf (Gündelbach). Riesling, Trollinger, Lemberger and Spätburgunder are grown.

Pictures: Weingut Herzog von Württemberg - Vineyards

Along with forestry and real estate activities, the wine growing activities are part of the “Hofkammer des Hauses Württemberg”. Today, the Hofkammer des Hauses Württemberg is a privately owned enterprise (owned by the von Württemberg family) and is based in Friedrichshafen at Lake Constance. H.R.H. Carl Herzog von Württemberg is the CEO.

Pictures: In the Cellar of Weingut Herzog von Württemberg

Tasting

We did not have a sit-down tasting, but tasted the wines during the tour.

NV Weingut Herzog von Württemberg Riesling Sekt extra trocken
2016 Weingut Herzog von Württemberg Stettener Brotwasser Riesling trocken
2015 Weingut Herzog von Württemberg Brotwasser Riesling GG