Schloss Johannisberg Grünlack Spätlese 2022

The Schloss Johannisberg vineyard overlooks the north bank of the Rhine, at the heart of the Rheingau, one of Germany's great Riesling regions. This historic hill, facing due south, enjoys generous sunshine and the moderating influence of the river, which encourage slow, even ripening of the grapes. The vines are rooted mainly in quartzite soils mixed with loess and clay, bringing tension, finesse and mineral expression to the wines. The estate farms this emblematic slope as a monopole: its relief, its proximity to the Rhine and its poor soils produce racy, luminous Rieslings with great length.

Made from Riesling harvested at Spätlese ripeness, this white wine is vinified in a medium-sweet style, preserving the grapes' natural sweetness and their fresh acidity.

This wine reveals notes of white peach, ripe apricot and yellow apple, lifted by the freshness of lemon and grapefruit. Hints of white flowers, delicate honey and fine herbs enrich its bouquet, while a touch of wet stone underlines its Rhine origin. On the palate, the wine is supple and enveloping, balanced by vibrant acidity that channels the natural sweetness. The long, precise and slightly saline finish elegantly extends the fruity and mineral flavours.

Germany has a long and illustrious history of viticulture. The Romans established the country's first vineyards along the banks of the Moselle, near the present-day city of Trier. In the third century AD, plantings spread to various neighbouring valleys, mainly those of the Moselle's tributaries. In the Middle Ages, the Christian Church, particularly the Cistercian and Benedictine monasteries, had a great influence on the development of viticulture and the production of quality wine in Germany. Germany has always been renowned for its excellent white wines: slightly sweet, low in alcohol but always of high quality. In recent years, however, wine drinkers have tended to prefer drier wines. As a result, the German market has evolved to suit every taste, with some splendid dry Rieslings and other white varieties such as Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer and Grauburgunder. Warmer summers and milder winters have also favoured rosés and reds, with Pinot Noir now the third most widely planted grape variety in the country. So take your pick: from traditional Rieslings to great reds, the range is wide and still growing. The German wine industry lost its way in terms of quality during the 20th century, extending plantings onto less favourable sites and pushing yields to levels where quality was severely compromised. However, Germany's finest producers never entirely lost their way, and since the late 20th century considerable efforts have been made to restore the country's former glory. Yields are now limited by law, and many leading producers have joined forces to form the VDP association (see German wine labels). Members of the VDP commit to focusing their efforts on quality rather than quantity. In terms of volume, Germany is among the world's top ten countries for annual wine production. Just over 60% of the wine produced is white, and it is widely accepted that the white wines from Germany's best sites and most reputable producers are among the greatest in the world. Germany's red wines are also growing in popularity and quality, especially those made from Spätburgunder, the local name for Pinot Noir. The second most popular red grape (in terms of hectares planted, at least) is Dornfelder.