Kloster Eberbach

Kloster Eberbach, located in the most prestigious German wine-growing region of Rheingau, is an icon of traditional wine culture and the largest wine estate in Germany.

Kloster Eberbach was founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks who also planted vineyards on the estate. The monastery was the largest European wine centre throughout the Middle Ages. In the early days, Pinot Noir was grown, in the 18th century they also started growing Riesling.

Owners have changed, but the viniculture has stayed. After the Second World War, the estate became state-owned and now belongs to Hessische Staatsweingüter (Hessian State Wineries). It is the largest wine estate in Germany with an area of 240 hectares. Two-thirds of the grapes planted are Riesling, one-third are Pinot Noir.

The 30-hectare wall-enclosed vineyard (a clos, using French terminology) located right next to the abbey might be considered the crown jewel of the winery. Today, this vineyard is only planted with Riesling vines. As the area is so large, the terroir varies, thus wines of many different styles are produced from the grapes. For example, the exclusive Mauerwein (“wall wine”) is made from a row of grapes growing against the sunny side of the stone wall.

The rest of the vineyards of Kloster Eberbach are located in various parts of Rheingau and are divided into three subgroups, each of which has its own focus and separate production facilities and cellars. The two most important varieties are Riesling with 85% and Pinot Noir with 15% of the total area – the latter is called Spätburgunder here.

The winery has made significant progress in the past ten years and is winning the hearts of wine lovers all over the world. Kloster Eberbach is considered the most modern winery in Europe. The wines are uniformly high quality: the Riesling has the purity of aromas and the elegance a good Riesling should have, furthermore, the wines show clear style differences between the different vineyards. Their wines are divided into three groups: cabinetkeller, i.e. the most prestigious wines; cresentia, i.e. excellent wines at an affordable price; and gutsweine, i.e. house wines. The labels on the bottle indicate which type of wine is inside.

Kloster Eberbach is a popular destination for wine tours and a venue for concerts. “The door stands open, but the heart even more so!” is the motto of the Eberbach Abbey. Porta patet, cor magis.

WHY KLOSTER EBERBACH?

Flagship of German wines
The winery plays a significant role in the development of German wine culture. Their selection of wines has something for every taste, whether you are just getting acquainted with Riesling or are already a real wine connoisseur.

Legacy of the Abbey
The knowledge that Steinberger wines come from a wall-enclosed vineyard which has been in use for 900 years is an experience in itself.

Familiar places
Film buffs may already have seen the exquisite interior of the Eberbach Abbey – some of the scenes of the famous film The Name of the Rose, directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, were filmed here.

Classical
The Eberbach Abbey is a key venue of the annual summer festival Rheingau Music Festival which is mostly dedicated to classical music, but also includes other genres such as jazz and cabaret.