The German equivalent to Burgundy’s famous Clos de Vougeot is the Steinberg vineyard in the Rheingau, owned by the historic Kloster Eberbach.
Both vineyards share a deep historical connection through the Cistercian monks, who traveled from Burgundy, France, to the Rheingau region of Germany in the 12th century.
The Cistercian monks originated from Cîteaux Abbey in Burgundy, where they established the famous Clos de Vougeot—a large, wall-enclosed vineyard (a "Clos" in French).
In 1136, these French monks established Kloster Eberbach (Eberbach Abbey) in Germany's Rheingau valley, bringing their advanced winemaking knowledge and grapevines with them.
The "German Clos de Vougeot": The monks' absolute favorite site was the Steinberg vineyard. Emulating the style of Clos de Vougeot, the monks built a massive 4-meter-high stone wall around it to protect their precious grapes from thieves.
Monopole Status: Covering 32.4 hectares, the Steinberg is the largest wall-enclosed vineyard in Germany. Because of its immense historical significance, German wine law dictates it does not have to list a village name on the label; the wines are simply sold as Steinberger.
The Grapes: While the monks originally imported Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder) from Burgundy, the Steinberg vineyard today is entirely planted with Riesling, producing some of the world's finest, highly mineral, and age-worthy white wines.
Today, the winery is no longer run by monks. Following secularization in 1803, it eventually passed into state hands and is currently operated as the state-owned Hessische Staatsweingüter Kloster Eberbach. Directly next to the historic walled vineyard sits the modern Steinbergkeller, one of Europe's most advanced gravity-flow wine production facilities.
Germany Classic 2026 (Franken, Rheingau, Mittelrhein, Ahr, Mosel, Nahe, Rheinhessen) by ombiasy WineTours led by Annette Schiller took place from June 28 to July 9, 2026. The tour started in Frankfurt and ended in Frankfurt.
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Visit of the Eberbach Abbey
One of Europe's best-preserved and important medieval monasteries. Its Romanesque and Gothic buildings are very impressive. Still a world-class winery today, the Eberbach Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery, founded in 1136 by Bernard of Clairvaux of Burgundy as the first Cistercian monastery on the eastern bank of the Rhine river. The nearly 900-year-old Eberbach Abbey in the Rheingau is a magical place where tradition and the future, encounter and dialogue, and values and ideas form a fruitful symbiosis. With its Romanesque and Early Gothic structures, the former Cistercian abbey ranks among the most magnificent monuments of monastic architecture and is considered the best-preserved medieval monastic complex in Europe. We got an in-depth visit, including a visit of the old monk’s dormitory where every year the famous auction of premium German wines takes place. A very special treat was a peek into the treasure chamber, where century old wine bottles are still stored and where the movie “The Name of the Rose” with Sean Connery was filmed in 1986.
The iconic Weingut Kloster Eberbach is closely linked to the history of the Abbey of Cîteaux and the abbey’s vineyards, the ‘Clos de Vougeot’ and the winemaking facility, the Château de Clos de Vougeot in Burgundy. Bernard of Clairvaux, a major leader in the reformation of the Benedictine Order (Cluny) which eventually led to the founding of a new order, the Cistercians, was abbot at the Abbey of Cîteaux. The Cistercian monks were the first “Colonialists” by establishing monasteries all around Europe. The monasteries sustained their living through farming and winemaking. Eberbach Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery, founded in 1136 by Bernard of Clairvaux as the first Cistercian monastery on the eastern bank of the Rhein river. By establishing the abbey he also founded the winery. In medieval times Eberbach Abbey was the largest winery in all of Europe with 750 acres of vineyards. Today Eberbach Abbey is one of the five State-owned wineries (the State of Hesse is its proprietor) and with 500 acres the largest winery in Germany. The estate’s holdings in highly esteemed vineyards in the Hessische Bergstrasse and the Rheingau wine region are unparalleled. We will take a look at the state of the art recently constructed new technical facilities of the winery built under the famous Clos Steinberg vineyard just down the road from the Abbey. Contrary to the Abbey of Cîteaux, the Château de Clos de Vougeot, and the Clos de Vougeot vineyards which are divided by roughly 80 owners, the Eberbach Abbey estate – the monastery buildings, vineyards, and winemaking facilities are still today an entity and Weingut Kloster Eberbach is still today a world-class winery.
Arriving
Lunch at the Eberbach Monastery Tavern
Old Presses
Cabinet and Treasury Cellars - with Katharina Puff
In the Steinberger Vineyard and at the New Winery with Niels Waloseck, Export Manager
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Dinner at JAN in Munich, Germany, with Jan Hartwig, one of the ten German 3-star Michelin Chefs (September 2024)
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