Würzburger Stein

Popular name for single vineyard sites in German-speaking countries, especially in Germany. The name is probably mostly due to a stony vineyard soil.

Würzburg (Maindreieck area) in Franconia

This single vineyard is certainly the most famous and well-known named Stein. Wines from the legendary "Würzburger Stein" have been known as "Steinwein" for many centuries. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) loved this wine. In this regard, he wrote to his wife Christiane: "No other wine will taste good to me and I am peevish when I run out of my favourite drink". However, he did not mention a grape variety, so it could have been a Silvaner or a Riesling, but theoretically also another variety. A sweet Würzburger Stein vintage 1540 was probably also the oldest wine ever drunk and edible. The year was so exceptionally hot that the Rhine dried up and could be crossed on foot. The wine was pressed from overripe grapes, kept in a barrel for a very long time and not drawn onto bottles until the 17th century. The last of these were in the possession of King Ludwig I of Bavaria (1786-1868). The London wine merchant Ehrmann bought them at auction.

One of these bottles with the then 421-year-old wine was served in London in 1961 to a select circle of wine connoisseurs, among them the journalist Hugh Johnson. As a prelude, a Rüdesheimer from 1857 and a Johannisberger from 1820 were opened; both wines were completely dead and...