Schlossturm-Blick – Castle Tower View

Read the audio guide

Schwabsburg: castle history and distinctive Riesling

The people of Schwabsburg have a strong attachment to their castle tower. It is the surviving keep of a castle from the Hohenstaufen period. Examination of a historic timber points to the year 1214. An early documentary reference dates from 1257, when King Richard of Cornwall issued a charter concerning Schwabsburg.

What remains of the castle

The castle was destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War. Its ruins later served as a source of building stone, and towards the end of the 18th century the remaining structures were demolished apart from the keep. The tower still defines the village today. The recording compresses these separate historical events; this reading version follows the account of the Nierstein Historical Society ↗ (in German).

The Schloss Schwabsburg vineyard site

Schloss Schwabsburg is also the name of a vineyard site farmed by the village’s winegrowers. Its south- and west-facing sections benefit from air movement and cooling at night. These conditions encourage a long ripening period, giving Riesling time to develop its character.

The audio guide describes mineral and smoky notes in the wines, alongside hints of grapefruit and rosehip. Further ageing in bottle can support their development, so it is worth getting to know older vintages too.

Quality begins with managing yields

The work towards concentrated, expressive grapes starts early. Depending on the training system, one or two canes are retained during pruning. In summer, growers may halve grape bunches or remove individual bunches entirely during a green harvest. This limits yields and influences the resources available to the remaining fruit.

The recording describes a yield of around half the permitted maximum as an example of this quality-focused approach. The aim is intensely flavoured grapes and wines that express their origins. The Communion Table stop explains more about the vineyard year.