| Region of production: | Nahe |
| Winery Location: | Monzingen |
| Year Established: | N/A |
Vineyard Holdings
approximately 17 ha
planted to 85% Riesling, 7% Grauburgunder, 4% Weissburgunder, 2% Muller-Thurgau, 2% Kerner
- Monzinger Frühlingsplätzchen: 9.1 ha (translates as „Spring’s Little Place“); soil is red slate with 70% inclines in some areas
- Monzinger Halenberg: 5.3 ha; soil is blue slate with 70% inclines in some areas
Top Wines Produced
- Monzinger Halenberg Rieslings: Spätlese, GG
- Monzinger Frühlingsplätzchen Riesling GG
- A.de.L. Riesling (from a 0.83-ha parcel called Auf der Lay („on the slate“), located at the top of Halenberg
Average Total Production
- 132,000 bottles
Summary
Today, Werner Schönleber and his son Frank run the winery, with Frank (1979) having taken over as cellar manager in 2005. According to Werner, „quality comes from torture,“ and „the only chance to recoup our efforts and expense is to produce wines of the highest possible quality.“ This „torture“ he refers to is their extreme vineyard work in the steep vineyards of Monzingen. Their two top sites there, Frühlingsplätzchen (to the west of town) and Halenberg (east of town), both have a rich history of quality, having been listed on the Prussian Lagenkarte as sites of first class in 1901. Most of their wine is fermented dry, though they do make Spätlesen, Auslesen, BAs and TBAs. Emrich-Schönleber has been a member of the VDP since 1994.
Style & Vinification Techniques
Emrich-Schönleber focuses on dry wines, though they do pick later in the season, with most of the Riesling picked in the first weeks of November, and the Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris picked in late October. They allow up to 5% botrytis. The basic and Prädikat wines are all fermented and aged in stainless steel; the GGs are aged in stück. According to Frank Schönleber, „we believe our wines achieve an even better balance and aging potential in wood.“[1]
Producer Website: Emrich-Schönleber
[1] Reinhardt, Stephan. The Finest Wines of Germany. Universtiy of California Press, c. 2012. Page 206.