1735er Johannisberger

The oldest German white wine - 1735er Johannisberger

The oldest known bottle of drinkable German white wine stems from the "Gräflich Schönborn'schen Eigenbau" Schönborn estate in the Rheingau valley. This historic gem was sold on November 14th 1987 at a major wine auction held by the Rheingau Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates in Kloster Eberbach.

Even the price was record-breaking: the wine merchant Bernhard Freund bid 53.000 DM (approx. 29.500 US$ for the bottle from the private cellars of the Grafen von Schönborn estate – a figure which remains unbeaten to this day. 

The wine was tasted during recorking and resealing. It was found to have a golden-yellow colour and to be of a clear, light translucency with minor depot. The fragrance was delicate and aromatic, reminiscent of sherry. The flavour revealed a full-bodied, well matured wine with dominant fruity note.