Maximin Grünhaus

Exquisite, Expressive Rieslings from a Legendary Ruwer Estate

The historic Maximin Grünhaus estate lies at the foot of a long, steep south-facing slope on the left bank of the tiny Ruwer river, about two kilometers upstream from where it joins the Mosel. The estate belongs to the family of Carl von Schubert and is divided into three separate but contiguous vineyards: Abtsberg, Herrenberg, and Bruderberg. Each of these vineyards has its own distinct differences in terroir, which explain the unique character of the wines made at Maximin Grünhaus.

HISTORY OF THE ESTATE

The first documentary evidence of Grünhaus, then called “Villa ad Valles,” dates from February 6, 966. Emperor Otto I, heir of Charlemagne, confirmed a donation that had been made in the Seventh century by the Frankish King Dagobert. At that time, the buildings, vineyards and surrounding land had been given to the Benedictine monastery of Saint Maximin in Trier. In 1882, it was purchased by an ancestor of Carl von Schubert, who is the fifth generation of his family to own the Grünhaus estate.

The VINEYARDS AND WINES

The Abtsberg

Wines from this vineyard were originally destined for the table of the Abbot (or “Abt”) of the Abbey of St. Maximin. The site covers 35 acres, parts of which have been planted with vines for over a thousand years. The subsoil is blue Devonian slate and the hillside runs south-east to south-west, achieving a gradient of up to 70 percent. Abtsberg wines are characterized by a finely structured subtle minerality, a racy acidity, generous fruit and great delicacy. They are amongst the longest lived Rieslings of the region.

The Herrenberg

Wines from this site were made specially for the Abbey’s choirmasters. Extending over 40 acres, the site benefits from deep soils with good water retention, over a base of red Devonian slate. Wines from the Herrenberg show fruit and body early in their lives, but also possess extraordinary ageing potential.

The Bruderberg

The smallest of the three Grünhaus vineyards, covering just 2.5 acres, the Bruderberg provided wine for the monks (or ‘brothers’). The site has the same Devonian slate soil as the Abtsberg next door, and the wines are very spicy, sometimes with a rustic slate-mineral quality.

Accolades for Maximin Grünhaus

Top 100 Winery 2017, 2020 — Wine & Spirits
Riesling Kabinett Champion 2020 — Vinum
Winemaker of the Year 1995 — Gault Millau

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White Wines

Maximin Grünhaus

Maximin Grünhaus Pinot Blanc

Maximin Grünhaus Pinot Blanc

A finely fruity and precisely defined Pinot Blanc from the red slate soil of the Grosse Lage (grand cru) Herrenberg vineyard.

Our Pinot Blanc grows exclusively in the upper portion of the Herrenberg vineyard, notable for its red slate soils. It is spontaneously fermented in neutral Fuder casks produced from our own local oak. This ensures that the wood does not influence the taste of the fruitiness and freshness of the wine, although it does impart a refined structure and elegance. The Pinot Blanc is bright and fresh, with all of the verve you would expect from a cooler, higher-elevation site.

Red Wines

Maximin Grünhaus Pinot Noir

Maximin Grünhaus Pinot Noir

A concentrated yet elegantly refined Pinot Noir grown in the blue slate soils of the Grosse Lage (grand cru) Abtsberg vineyard.

The von Schubert family’s dream to bring top-quality Pinot Noir back to Grünhaus was realized in 2007, when one hectare of Pinot Noir (Dijon clones 777 and 828) was planted on one of the steepest parcels of the Abtsberg vineyard. Another half-hectare parcel was planted a year later. Following classic maceration and fermentation in open stainless steel vats, the Pinot Noir spends 18 months in French and Austrian oak, as well as locally made barriques from the estate’s own oak trees. The result is a complex and elegant Pinot Noir, that clearly expresses its kinship to the Grünhaus Rieslings.

Dry Rieslings

Maximin Grünhaus Schloss Riesling

Maximin Grünhaus Schloss Riesling

A precise and delicately defined dry-style Riesling, harvested from this estate’s wholly-owned hillside of contiguous vineyards.

This new label replaces the former “Monopol” Riesling and is produced with fruit harvested from the estate’s wholly owned Abtsberg, Herrenberg and Bruderberg vineyards. As with the Monopol, the wine perfectly captures the exotic fruit and delicate precision that are classic characteristics of the Grünhaus estate. It is made in the German trocken (dry ) style, which balances a small amount of residual sweetness (less than nine grams per liter) with vibrant acidity. This carries the official VDP classification of “Gutswein” (estate wine).

Maximin Grünhaus Grünhäuser Riesling

Maximin Grünhaus Grünhäuser Riesling

A nuanced and complex dry Riesling selected from parcels in this cult producer’s best two vineyards.

This is the estate’s “Ortswein” (VDP equivalent of villages), which expresses the unique terroir of their contiguous hillside of vineyards, their characteristic slate soil, and their singular location in this tiny, protected side valley of the Mosel. While the “Schloss” Riesling represents the distinctive style of the estate, the Grünhäuser Riesling brings you the taste of the dirt. The redundancy in the name occurs because this is the one estate in Germany where the estate and “village” share the same name: Grünhaus (“Grünhäuser” is the possessive form in German).

Maximin Grünhaus Abtsberg Riesling GG

Maximin Grünhaus Abtsberg Riesling GG

A fine and sophisticated dry Riesling from a cherished wine estate’s top Grosse Lage (grand cru) vineyard site.

The Abtsberg vineyard is one of the greatest sites in all of Germany. It is extremely steep (up to 70% slope) and has perfect south-southwest exposure, making it the warmest site at Grünhaus. The wines from this vineyard are finely structured, with subtle minerality, a racy acidity, generous fruit and great delicacy. Grosses Gewächs (GG) is the German term for an estate’s best dry wine from a Grosse Lage vineyard.

 

Maximin Grünhaus Herrenberg Riesling GG

Maximin Grünhaus Herrenberg Riesling GG

A deftly structured and elegant dry Riesling from the red slate soil of the Herrenberg vineyard.

The Herrenberg vineyard is based more on red slate than its blue slate neighbor, the Abtsberg. It also has deeper topsoil that retains more water, which can be of great benefit in dry years. The wines are more generous and tend to open up sooner than those of Abtsberg, but are capable of equal longevity. Grosses Gewächs (GG) is the German term for a dry wine from a Grosse Lage (grand cru) vineyard.

 

Sparkling Rieslings

Maximin Grünhaus Riesling Sekt Brut

Maximin Grünhaus Riesling Sekt Brut

A fine and elegant sparkling Riesling from the Ruwer Valley, made according to the traditional “méthode champenoise.”

For the Riesling Sekt, 100% healthy grapes were harvested in the Herrenberg vineyard. Whole clusters were pressed with low pressure for about three hours. The wine was fermented in old Fuder casks, and left on the full lees until April. After racking and filtering the wine was taken to a local Sekt producer who handled the second fermentation in the bottle, 27 months of maturation in bottle, hand riddling and disgorgement. The dosage was done with subtle Abtsberg Spätlese. The wine has a very fine mousseux, the typically racy minerality of Grünhaus Riesling, and a silky texture combined with an invigorating freshness.

Off-Dry Rieslings

Maximin Grünhaus Maximin Riesling

Maximin Grünhaus Maximin Riesling

A delightful off-dry Riesling that combines fresh fruit flavors with an optimal interplay of sweetness and acidity.

This introductory wine displays the fine character of the Mosel-Ruwer region in the inimitable style of Maximin Grünhaus. It has a charming lightness that makes it hard to resist. Balanced and refreshing with fine, crisp acidity and aromas of fresh apples, mirabelle and pear.

Maximin Grünhaus Abtsberg Riesling Superior

Maximin Grünhaus Abtsberg Riesling Superior

A superlative off-dry Riesling selected from old vines in this historic estate’s finest vineyard.

The “Superior” bottling is harvested from low-yielding old vines in the best parts of the Abtsberg vineyard. It is a harmonious, perfectly balanced, off-dry wine that captures the purity and complexity of the vineyard. Produced in traditional 1,000-liter Fuder casks, this wine ferments in the estate’s deep, cool cellar and rests on the fine lees until it finds its own ideal balance. The name “Superior” is a reference to the estate’s monastic history, as in “Father Superior.”

Prädikat Rieslings

Maximin Grünhaus Abtsberg Riesling Kabinett

Maximin Grünhaus Abtsberg Riesling Kabinett

An iconic Riesling Kabinett from a revered wine estate’s best vineyard in the tiny Ruwer valley of western Germany.

The Kabinett Prädikat (ripeness level) is used for the lighter, more delicate style that comes from parcels that are picked early in the harvest. The Abtsberg vineyard is one of the greatest sites in all of Germany, with wines characterized by a finely structured and subtle minerality, a racy acidity, generous fruit and great delicacy. The Kabinett from Abtsberg epitomizes the graceful nature and distinctive taste of the wines from this singular estate.