History & Geography
1200 years of wine growing history 817: First documented mention of the Johannisberg vineyards. Emperor Ludwig the Pious acquires vineyards on the Helisa stream, today’s Elsterbach, from Fulda Abbey. 1100: Foundation of the Benedictine monastery at the Johannisberg site. 1130: The name Johannisberg is born. The monastery becomes an independent abbey and consecrates the high altar to John the Baptist. The German name means St. John’s hill. 1716: Construction of the palace by price abbot of Fulda commences on 20 June to take the place of the monastery ruins caused by this turbulent period. 1720: The entire domain is planted with Riesling. The first closed Riesling vineyard in the world is created. 1775: By chance, “Spätlese” is created as a new wine style at Schloss Johannisberg. 1816: On 1 July, Emperor Franz I of Austria presented Schloss Johannisberg to his Foreign Minister Prince von Metternich in recognition of his achievements at the Congress of Vienna.
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