Kloster Eberbach, the cradle of winegrowing in the Rheingau, bears witness to the centuries-old history of German viticulture. The first wines were produced in the 12th century by the Cistercian monks of Eberbach Abbey. Today, there are no monks at the abbey but winegrowing has not stopped.
Today, Kloster Eberbach's vineyards cover some 252 hectares, making it one of the largest wine estates in Germany. Kloster Eberbach owns six wine estates in the Rheingau and Hessisische Bergstraße. For the monks, the idea that the quality of the wine comes from the raw material has been the driving force behind a rigorous selection of the best plots in the region. Clos Steinberg is the largest plot, owned by Kloster Eberbach and representing 32 exceptional hectares. Mostly planted with Riesling, the vineyard also produces magnificent Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris).
For 9 centuries, the vineyards of Kloster Eberbech have been run according to 3 fundamental values: authenticity, tradition and care. Centuries of tradition have forged a strong sense of environmental responsibility at the estate. The vineyard is therefore run using organic farming methods, and quality is paramount at every stage of vine-growing and wine-making.
These great Rheingau wines have always been cherished. So much so that in the 18th century, a vault was even created to house the most precious wines. This cellar, whose first role was that of a scriptorium, was renamed "Cabinet," which later became "Kabinett" in the classification of German wines, and today designates a demanding level of quality. In 2008, a new cellar was inaugurated. Modern and imposing, this 5,000 square metre structure located 300 metres from the abbey has been dubbed the "Cathedral of Riesling" by Stern magazine.
Kloster Eberbach wines are among the finest in Germany. These wines, mostly white, are made from Riesling, the king of grapes in the Rheingau region. Kloster Eberbach wines are fresh and youthful, but depending on the vineyard, the fruit may be more intense, the spices more subtle and the minerality elegant or pronounced.
