Location and History
The Johannitergarten is an officially registered single vineyard site in the Mußbach district of Neustadt an der Weinstraße in the Pfalz. The vineyards lie within the former manor of the Order of St John and are surrounded by historical sandstone walls. In 1297, fourteen Morgen of vineyard area were transferred to the Johanniter estate. Winegrowing and winemaking were continued under the Order of St John before the estate was acquired in 1970 by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Vines and Cultivation
As the sole owner and cultivator, the Staatsweingut with Johannitergut is documented. A technical report from 2021 lists 1.43 hectares of planted vineyard area. Historically, the vineyard was completely planted with Riesling. In 2021, experimental plots were added with the historical varieties Grüner Adelfränkisch, Gänsfüßer and Fränkischer Burgunder, as well as with Muscaris, Laurot, Sauvignac, Satin Noir and Souvignier Gris.
Historical Chamber Building
A small part is cultivated as a historical chamber building. In this process, a framework made of wood and laths, fixed to sandstone posts, replaces the modern steel posts and tension wires. Soil care and cutting the shoots are carried out there by hand. As a traditional tying material, yellow basket osier is used; the reconstructed framework consists of split chestnut wood from the Palatinate Forest. The historical support structures use sandstone wingert stones broken on site.
Wine Character
A documented Riesling from the 2022 vintage was bottled dry. The producer described it as fresh and acidity-driven, with notes of citrus fruits, green apple and lime.
