Weingut Schloss Neuweier/ Robert Schätzle is one of the most impressvie wine estates in all of Germany.
Wine has been produced at this 13 th century castle for more than 700 years. About 100 years ago Riesling became the dominant grape and passion. Still today, winemaking takes place in the vaulted cellars that date back to the 17 th century. In 2012 the Schätzle family bought the estate and continues to produce wines of uncompromising quality. Robert Schätzle, the winemaker, studied oenology and comes from a family with a long tradition of winemaking in the Kaiserstuhl region to the south.
The Rieslings grow in the steep (60%) vineyards Schlossberg and Mauerberg which were already terraced in historical times. The narrow terraces only accommodate two rows of vines and have man-high retaining walls of natural stones. This situation makes for a perfect heat storage and shields the cool winds from the Black Forest. This very special microclimate is the basis for the fresh, minerally, racy wines with excellent aromas of citrus and exotic fruit.
Robert Schätzle was our host.
When we arrived, Robert suggested to walk over to the vineyards first.
While walking there, he introduced us to the rich history of Schloss
Neuweier. We then sat down with Robert for a tasting of the Weingut Schloss Neuweier portfolio.
History
The castle belongs to the few historic buildings from the 12th century
that still exist. Die Ritter von Bach were the first who started
planting vines and producing wine. All subsequent owners showed
interested in winemaking.
Its current shape took the castle, when it was owned by Philipp Kämmerer
von Worms, called von Dalberg. During 1548 to 1549, this gentleman
created the castle as you can see it today. To remind everyone of his
creation he put in the entry portal: Zeyt bryngt Rosen – Time brings
Roses.
In 1615, the castle was passed onto the second daughter of Philipp von
Dalberg, whose husband was Wolf von Eltz and Knebel von
Katzenellenbogen. Katzenellenbogen was a high ranking knight who fought
under the rule of the Archbishop of Mainz. He also was an important
person in terms of winemaking at Weingut Schloss Neuweier. He brought
his knowledge from the Franken area, the Bocksbeutel bottles and the
Niersteiner and the Laubenheimer grape varities, which replaced the
traditional Elblinger and Ortlieber.
During the 19th century the castle changed its owners quiet frequently.
From 1869, the Rößler family from Baden-Baden became the owner of the
castle. The Rößler family is responsible for the Mauerberg vineyard
gaining international recognition.
The Joos family bought the estate including all the buildings and the
vineyard in 1992. With great enthusiasm and financial investments they
brought the castle and all the attached buildings back to the full
bloom, which you can still admire today. The renovations were completed
in 2009.
In 2012, the estate was sold to the family of Robert Schaetzle; they
come from a traditional vintners background in the Kaiserstuhl area near
Freiburg.
The Vineyards
The heart of the vineyard area (15 hectares) of Weingut Schloss Neuweier
are two very steep monopoly sites: Schlossberg and Goldenes Loch.
Robert Schätzle: Schlossberg - This is a monopoly site of 3 hectares of
south-facing slopes with up to 55°incline, entirely Riesling. The soil
is very special, made up of ground granite, schist, shale and slate. Due
to being close to an extinct volcano you also find quartz crystals on
the surface. The climate is defined by being on the lower slopes of the
Black Forrest Mountains and close to the Rhine plateau and in
combination with the soil is ideal growing grounds for Riesling. The
Riesling grown here gets a lot of sun during the day and at night the
release of the heat that was accumulated during the day in the soil.
Goldenes Loch - Another monopoly site of 1 hectare south-west facing
cauldron between the Schlossberg and the Mauerberg. The name was
established because of the foliage glowing golden in the autumn sun due
to the concave mirror effect caused by the cauldron, catching the last
rays of the day. The extreme incline of 60° or more was the main reason
it was left alone but in 1993 the land was reclaimed by using small
diagonal terraces. The grapes grown here produce exquisite Riesling
wines.
Mauerberg: This is a south facing site. Historically, 60% of the
Mauerberg was terraced, with each terrace large enough for one or two
vines. The man-high natural stone walls contribute to the micro climate
for the vines by keeping the warmth during the day as well as being
dried be the wind from the Black Forest.
Heiligenstein: The name seems to originate from the Celtic culture
stating a magical powerful place, which it is still today. The
foundation is full of granite being enjoyed by our young Pinot Noir
vines. Here is where we get our very clean, clear classical red wines
from.
Robert Schätzle
Robert Schätzle is a very interesting and charming fellow, with curly,
almost Afro-style hair and a strong regional southern Baden accent. He
lives at the castle with his French wife and one son, if I remember
correctly.
Robert did not appeared out of nowhere. He has put in time at serious
wineries over the years – at Franz Keller and Dr. Heger in Baden, across
the Rhine in Alsace with Zind-Humbrecht and Marc Kreydenweiss, and in
Bordeaux at La Tour de By. Before turning to wine, Robert was in
academia. He studied at Université Bordeaux Segalen in France.
Weingut Schloss Neuweier
Vineyard area (hectare): 18 ha
Varietal in %: 88 % Riesling 8 % Spätburgunder 3 % Weißburgunder 1 % Gewürztraminer
Output per year: 98.000 Flaschen
Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: All Postings (already posted and forthcoming)
Summary: Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
The Sun-Kissed South: Germany’s Pinot Noir, the Other Whites, the Culinary Regions - Germany-South and Alsace 2018 Tour by ombiasy WineTours: Baden, Alsace, Pfalz and Rheinhessen
Cellar Tour and Tasting with Daniel Wagner at Weingut Wagner-Stempel (VDP) in Siefersheim, Rheinhessen - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by
ombiasy WineTours
Tasting with Helmut Dönnhoff and Sascha Johannes Schömel at Weingut Dönnhoff (VDP) in Oberhausen, Nahe - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
An Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany
Dinner in a Typical Old Town Mainz Wine Tavern: At Weinhaus Bluhm and at Weinhaus Schreiner - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Taverns in Mainz, Germany
Cellar
Tour and Tasting in the Courtyard with Owner/ Winemaker Gesine Roll at
Weingut Weedenborn Weedenborn in Monzenheim, Rheinhessen - Germany-South
and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
Weingut Jülg (VDP): Lunch in the Wine Tavern with Karin and Werner Jülg and Tasting in the Vineyard with Johannes Jülg - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting with Sven Nieger at Weingut Sven Nieger in Baden-Baden-Varnholt, Ortenau - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch at Waldgasthaus Scherrhof - Deep in the Black Forest, Local Badenser Cuisine at its Best - Germany-South and
Alsace 2022 by
ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard Tour and Tasting with Owner/ Winemaker
Robert Schätzle at Weingut Schloss Neuweier (VDP) in
Baden-Baden-Neuweier, Baden - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy
WineTours
Cellar
Tour and Tasting with Martin Bercher at Weingut Bercher (VDP) in
Burkheim, Kaiserstuhl, Baden - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy
WineTours
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting with Matthias
Höfflin and Kaylie Magestro at Weingut Höfflin in Bötzingen,
Kaiserstuhl, Baden - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar
Tour and Tasting in the Courtyard with Joachim Heger and Winemaker
Markus Mleinek at Weingut Dr. Heger (VDP) in Ihringen, Kaiserstuhl,
Baden - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Dr. Heger in Ihringen, Kaiserstuhl, Baden – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
The World Class Wines of Alsace
In the world class white wine region Alsace
Cellar Tour with Pierre Gassmann and Tasting at Domaine Rolly-Gassmann in Rorschwihr, Alsace - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour and Massive Tasting at Domaine Rolly-Gassmann in Rorschwihr, Alsace, with Pierre Gassmann - Germany-South and Alsace 2018 Tour by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Domaine Zind-Humbrecht in Turckheim, Alsace - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
Dinner
with Chef Laurine Gutleben and Restaurant Manager/ Husband Antoine
Bauer, both Owners, at Michelin-rated Restaurant La Veille Forge in
Kaysersberg, Alsace - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard Tour and Tasting with Jean Pierre Dirler at Domaine Dirler-Cadé in Bergholtz, Alsace - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Domaine Dirler-Cadé with Jean Pierre Dirler and Ludevine Dirler-Cadé - Germany-South and Alsace 2017 Tour by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour and Tasting with Frédéric Hugel at Domaine Hugel & Fils in Riquewhir, Alsace - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
Tour and Tasting at Hugel in Riquewhir, Alsace, with Jean Frédéric Hugel - Germany-South and Alsace 2017 Tour by ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard
Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting with Owners Catherine Faller and Eddy
Leiber-Faller at Domaine Weinbach in Kaysersberg, Alsace - Germany-South
and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
Visiting Colette Faller at Domaine Weinbach in Kaysersberg in Alsace
Dinner with Chef de Cuisine
Jean-Michel Eblin at 1-star Michelin Restaurant Le Maximilien in
Zellenberg, Alsace - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour and Tasting with Adrien Schoenheitz at Vins Schoenheitz in Wihr-au-Val, Alsace - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch
at Restaurant 1-star Michelin Restaurant La Nouvelle Auberge in
Wihr-au-Val, Alsace - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting with Rémy Gresser at Domaine Rémy Gresser in Andlau, Alsace - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Domaine Rémy Gresser in Andlau, with Rémy Gresser - Alsace Tour 2019 with the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim, France
Vineyard
Tour and Tasting with Hans Rebholz, Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz (VDP),
Pfalz - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz in Siebeldingen, Pfalz – Germany-South by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Lunch at Restaurant 1832 at the Hambacher Schloss - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting
in the Courtyard and Cellar Tour with Frank John at Weingut Frank John
in Neustadt an der Weinstraße - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy
WineTours
Cellar Tour and Tasting with Andreas Rings at Weingut
Rings (VDP) in Freinsheim, Pfalz - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by
ombiasy WineTours
Tasting and Cellar Tour at Weingut Rings in Freinsheim, Pfalz, with Andreas Rings - Germany-South and Alsace 2017 Tour by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting
with Bettina Bürklin-von Guradze and Riccardo Korner at Weingut Dr.
Bürklin-Wolf (VDP) in Wachenheim, Pfalz - Germany-South and Alsace 2022
by ombiasy WineTours
Impromptu Tasting at Weinbar & Vinothek Weingut Dr. Bürklin-Wolf in Deidsheim, with Managing Director Steffen Brahner - Germany-South and Alsace 2018 Tour by ombiasy WineTours: Baden, Alsace, Pfalz and Rheinhessen
Tasting with Anne and Matthias Gaul at Weingut Matthias Gaul in Grünstadt-Asselheim, Pfalz - - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
No comments:
Post a Comment