It would be hard to imagine a more stylish setting for a wine estate: a mighty medieval castle, the residence of the Count of Adelmann family, surrounded by a park with huge ancient trees, and in the distance the vineyards. The Adelmann family acquired Burg Schaubeck and the 21 hectares wine estate in 1914 but the estate’s winemaking history stretches back almost 1000 years.
Felix Count Adelmann was our host. He is the fifth generation of his family line managing the estate.
The visit had 2 parts.
Afternoon: We started the visit with a glass of Sekt in the garden of Burg Schaubeck. Felix Count Adelmann took us by car on a vineyard tour. We then visted the old cellars of Weingut Graf Adelmann, the approximately 500 years old "Amtskeller" in Kleinbottwar, a few hundred meters from the castle.
Evening: Following the cellar tour, we headed back to Burg Schaubeck for an amazing wine-tasting dinner in the park of Burg Schaubeck, with Felix Count Adelmann and his mother Christine Countess Adelmann.
This posting covers the vineyard and cellar tour in the afternoon. A separate posting will cover the dinner in the evening.
Weingut Graf Adelmann
Weingut Graf Adelmann is in Kleinbottwar in Württemberg. The heart of it is Burg Schaubeck, a mighty medieval castle, the residence of the Count of Adelmann family, surrounded by a park with huge ancient trees, and in the distance the vineyards.
The Schaubeck family built Schaubeck Castle in the 13th century atop the remains of a Roman manor and began making wine there shortly thereafter. In the middle ages these wines were served as "Schaubeckers" in Vienna and other European Courts.
The Adelmann family acquired Burg Schaubeck and the 21 hectares wine estate in 1914.
In the fifth generation of the family, Felix Graf Adelmann has managed the fortunes of the winery since 2012. The property also includes other agricultural land, which has been leased since 1990.
The wine is not made at the castle itself, but in the approximately 500 years old Amtskeller in Kleinbottwar, a few hundred meters from the castle.
The partly steep terraced vineyards cover 21 hectares of vineyards in Kleinbottwar (16 ha), Grossbottwar (1 ha) and Hoheneck (3 ha terraces).
The 2 VDP.Grosse Lage vineyards Kleinbottwarer Oberer Berg and Kleinbottwarer Süßmund are monopole site.
Grape varieties: 33% Riesling, 13% Lemberger, 13% Trollinger, 8% Samtrot, 8% Pinot Gris (Grauburgunder), 5% Spätburgunder, 3% Muskateller, 17% others.
In addition to Weingut Graf Adelmann wines, where all the grapes are sourced from own vineyards, there are also entry-level Weinkellerei Graf Adelmann wines, where the grapes are bought from other producers. The labels of these two lines of production are distinctively different.
Brandies and Sekt is also produced. The winery is a member of VDP as well as founding member of the two groups H.A.D.E.S. and Deutsches Barrique-Forum.
Weingut Graf Adelmann/ VDP
It would be hard to imagine a more stylish setting for a winegrowing estate: a medieval castle, powerful and angular, the seat of its county, surrounded by huge ancient trees in a wide-ranging park — and there on the horizon, the vineyards. Although the Adelmanns first acquired the property in 1914, the Schaubecker estate's winemaking history stretches back almost a thousand years. Felix Graf Adelmann represents the fifth generation of his line to oversee the tradition-rich estate. Like his father before him, he values traditional dry, barrel-aged red wines, while maintaining an open mind for modern innovations. His white wines, by contrast, embrace elegance and a fine structure. Weingut Graf Adelmann has long been counted among the region's bastions of quality.
Owner Felix Graf Adelmann
Winemaker Ruben Röder
Outside Manager Sabine Roth
VDP member since 1973
Hectares of vineyards 21
Bottle production 140 000
Grape varieties 16% Riesling, 18% Lemberger, 8% Trollinger sowie u.a. Grau-, Spät- & Weissburgunder, Samtrot & Clevner
Barrique Aging and Cuvées at Weingut Graf Adelmann
Weingut Graf Adelmann is a pioneer in Germany when it comes to using barrique barrels and blending wines.
Already in 1981, Micheal Count Adelmann, the father of Felix Count Adelmann, started to age his wines in barrique barrels, at a time when the wood tone was still considered a gross error in Germany.
In 1989, Micheal Count Adelmann created his first cuvée, at a time when only single-variety wines were considered premium wines in Germany.
With like-minded colleagues, Michael Count Adelmann, founded in 1986 H.A.D.E.S. and in 1990 the Deutsche Barriqueforum.
H.A.D.E.S. grew out of the „study group new oak barrel“. It comprises the wineries Fürst zu Hohenlohe, Öhringen, Graf Adelmann, Kleinbottwar, Drautz-Able, Heilbronn, Jürgen Ellwanger, interbach and the „Sonnenhof“ of the Fischer family. The name H.A.D.E.S. was put together out of the first letters of the name of the 5 members.
H.A.D.E.S. was a leader in introducing barrique aging to Swabia – and more generally – Germany. Initially, H.A.D.E.S. wines were rejected as “untypical” or “woody” and had to be sold as table wines. This has changed completely over the past 30 years. Using new wood has become a common tool in winemaking in Germany.
Brüsselle and Adelmann
In 1853, General Major Baron Felix von Brüsselle from Austria inherited Burg Schaubeck castle with its agricultural and vineyard holdings.
Since then the entry-level wines were sold for a long period under the designation "Brüsseler", a slight modification of the family name that fits in with the local Swabian dialect. The noble-sweet wines were sold and still are being sold as "Brüsseler Spitze" (the highest quality Brüsseler) with a wonderful traditional label that uses a background of antique lace (another meaning of the German word Spitze).
Felix de Bruesselle really took to his new task and soon his wines were winning medals at international expositions everywhere. His son had little interest in continuing at Schaubeck castle and left the estate to his sister who with her husband Heinrich Graf Adelmann took over the estate in 1914 and renamed it Weingut Graf Adelmann.
Under the leadership of Heinrich Graf Adelmann the estate rose to the top echelon in Württemberg. Heinrich Graf Adelmann was also active outside the wine trade as a diplomat and politician. He was elected three times as a representative to Parliament.
His son Raban followed eagerly in his footsteps but died suddenly in 1935.
At the young age of 23 his nephew, also Raban, assumed control. He had studied law and history at the universities of Bonn and Cologne and at Williams College in Massachusetts. He continued the tradition of producing high quality wines and also giving of his time to public service. In 1962 he was appointed NATO representative by Foreign Minister Heinrich von Brentano. Finally in 1967 he returned to Schaubeck castle and devoted his time exclusively to producing fine wines.
In 1978, his son Michael Graf Adelmann took over the reins. Also a lawyer, who studied in Munich and Tübingen. He started to age his wines in barrique barrels, at a time when the wood tone was still considered a gross error in Germany. In 1989, Micheal Count Adelmann created his first cuvée, at a time when only single-variety wines were considered premium wines in Germany. With like-minded colleagues, Micheal Count Adelmann, founded in 1986 H.A.D.E.S. and in 1990 the Deutsche Barriqueforum.
Fifth Generation: Felix Graf Adelmann Since 2012
Felix Graf Adelmann: New challenge brings its time: not only the quality, but the balance sheet must be right. Wineries are now companies with the classic departments such as sales and marketing. Of course, the family thing remains - and in order to prepare for the many tasks, Felix Graf Adelmann breaks with a tradition: he did not studied law, but business administration in London and Madrid, and then gained experience as a business consultant. He trained for the work in the cellar and vineyard at renowned wineries in Germany and abroad. The current generation continues to hold fast to the family tradition: the wine enthusiast tirelessly upholds the banner of quality according to the motto "traditional - but never conventional", just typical of Adelmann.
Dinner in the Garden of Burg Schaubeck
Following the vineyard and cellar tour, we headed back to Burg Schaubeck for an amazing wine-tasting dinner in the park of Burg Schaubeck, with Felix Count Adelmann and his mother Christine Countess Adelmann. The dinner will be covered in a separate posting.
Postings: Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken (Published and Forthcoming)
Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Vineyard Tour and Tasting at the Königlicher Weinberg Klausberg Project in Sanssouci, Potsdam
Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Dr. Lindicke in Werder an der Havel, Brandenburg, with Katharina Lindicke
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Born in Salzatal, Saale-Unstrut, with Elisabeth Born - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Vineyard Visit and Wine Tasting Lunch at Weingut Hey in Naumburg, Saale-Unstrut, with Matthias Hey – Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Wine Pairing Dinner at Restaurant Zufriedenheit in Naumburg, with Chef Robert Klaus and his Excellent Food, and Uwe Lützkendorf, Weingut Lützkendorf, and his World-class Wines - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Tasting at Weingut Uwe Lützkendorf, with Uwe Lützkendorf, in Bad Kösen, Saale-Unstrut – Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Schiller's Favorite Winemakers in the Saale Unstrut Region, Germany
Visit and tasting at Landesweingut Kloster Pforta in Bad Kösen, Saale-Unstrut, with Managing Director Björn Probst
Weingut Kloster Pforta: Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting with Managing Director Christian Kloss – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)
Wine and Music: "Martin Luther Lunch" at the Historic Vincenz Richter Restaurant, Weingut Vincenz Richter, in Meissen with Senior Boss Gottfried Herrlich and the Music of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven – Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Schuh in Coswig, Sachsen, with Katharina Pollmer-Schuh and Matthias Schuh - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Tour and Dinner at Weingut Schloss Proschwitz - Prinz zur Lippe in Zadel, Sachsen, with Georg Prinz zur Lippe - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Visit and Tasting at the Sächsisches Staatsweingut Schloss Wackerbarth in Radebeul, Sachsen - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Wine and Opera in Dresden: Mozart at Semper Opera and the Best Wines of Sachsen at Wine Bar Weinzentrale in Dresden-Neustadt, with Owner/ Sommelier Jens Pietzonka – Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Schiller's Favorite Winemakers in Sachsen (Saxony), Germany
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Aldinger in Fellbach (Stuttgart), with Matthias Aldinger - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Vineyard Walk, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Karl Haidle in Kernen-Stetten, Württemberg, with Moritz Haidle - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Dinner at Weingut Graf Adelmann Burg Schaubeck in Steinheim-Kleinbottwar, Württemberg; with Count Adelmann
Cellar tour and Tasting at Weingut Zehnthof, Theo Luckert in Sulzfeld, Franken, with Philipp Luckert
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Staatlicher Hofkeller in Würzburg, Franken, with General Manager Marcel von den Benken – Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Visit and Tasting at Weingut Am Stein Ludwig Knoll in Würzburg, Franken - Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Wine Pairing Dinner at 1 Michelin Star Restaurant Reisers am Stein, Würzburg, Franken
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, Franken, with Sebastian Fürst
Tasting and Tour with the Pinot Noir Legend Paul Fürst, Weingut Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, Franken – Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Visit and Tasting at Weingut Benedikt Baltes in Klingenberg, Franken, with Benedikt Baltes: The Wines of Weingut Benedikt Baltes and of Weingut Julia Bertram
Schiller’s Favorites: 2 Legendary Wine Taverns in Würzburg – Juliusspital and Bürgerspital
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Taverns in Würzburg
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