The "Graf Adelmann" winery is located in the municipality of Kleinbottwar (Württembergisch Unterland area) in the German wine-growing region of Württemberg. Viticulture at Schaubeck Castle was first documented over 700 years ago in 1297. In 1914, the castle was inherited by the Count Adelmann family. From 1978, Michael Count Adelmann (1947-2023) took over the business from his father Raban (1912-1992). He is considered a pioneer of German viticulture and was co-founder of the HADES Group (the "A" stands for Adelmann) in 1986, which set itself the goal of exploring the barrique barrel. From 1985 to 1993, he served as president of the VDP-Württemberg. His son Felix Graf Adelmann, the fifth generation of the family, has been responsible for the fortunes of the winery since 2012. Although the estate also includes 60 hectares of agricultural land, this has been leased out since 1990. The wines are not vinified at the castle itself, but in the 500-year-old "Amtskeller" in the municipality of Kleinbottwar, just a few hundred metres from the castle.
The vineyards, some of which are steeply terraced, cover 27 hectares of vines in the municipalities of Kleinbottwar (16 ha), Grossbottwar (1 ha), Hoheneck (3 ha of terraces) and 6 hectares between Bottwartal and Remstal. The three single vineyards Kleinbottwarer Oberer Berg, Götzenberg and Süßmund, defined as Grosse Lagen according to the VDP classification, are solely owned. The extensive range of grape varieties includes the red wine varieties Lemberger (Blaufränkisch), Samtrot,Pinot Noir, Frühburgunder, Trollinger (Schiava Grossa), Muskat-Trollinger, Cabernet Cubin, Cabernet Mitos, Dornfelder and Blauer Urban (Schiava Gentile), as well as the white wine varieties Riesling, Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris), Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Grüner Veltliner Muskateller and Traminer. The vineyards have been cultivated according to organic (ecological) viticulture guidelines since 2015 and have been fully certified organic since 2018. In addition, some areas are cultivated biodynamically.
Whole-cluster pressing is mainly practised for the white wines. These are fermented cold to emphasise the aromas. The red wines are matured in large and small wooden barrels after classic mash fermentation. The noble sweet wines known as "Brüssele'r Spitze"(ice wine, TBA, etc.) were introduced in 1945 as the first German premium wine. The name goes back to the Barons of Brusselle-Schaubeck, who resided here from 1853 until the beginning of the 20th century. Other wines include "Der Loewe von Schaubeck" (white and red), the cuvée "Herbst im Park" (Lemberger, Pinot Noir, Cabernet varieties), as well as Grosses Gewächs "Der Schwarze Löwe" (Lemberger) and "Das Lied von der Erde" (Riesling). At a gala dinner in honour of US President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004), hosted by German President Richard von Weizsäcker (1920-2015), a Lemberger from the estate was served. Fine brandies and bottle-fermented sparkling wines are also produced. The winery is a member of the VDP and a founding member of HADES and the German Barrique Forum.
Burg Schaubeck: by Mussklprozz - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
