Location and Geology
Kloster Disibodenberg is a vineyard site in Odernheim am Glan in the wine-growing region Nahe. It lies on the Disibodenberg above the monastery ruins and at the meeting point of Nahe and Glan. The adjoining river floodplain has a balancing effect on the climate of the vineyard site.
Topography and Cultivation
The large, steep vineyard site is predominantly oriented to the south. Its soil consists of clay slate. The area covers about 10 hectares and, according to the current operator, is almost completely in their possession; around 2 hectares were newly planted at the time of publication.
Grape Varieties and Wines
Riesling is the most important grape variety and shapes Kloster Disibodenberg as a classic Riesling site. The wines are produced both dry and in off-dry styles. In 2008, five preserved White Orleans vines were discovered, which had grown wild near a wall and may count among Germany’s oldest vines.
History
Historical evidence points to continuous winegrowing on the south-facing slope since at least the 11th century; possible Roman remains are also reported. The monastery was converted into a Benedictine monastery in 1108, and Hildegard of Bingen entered it in 1112. The site remained inhabited until the monastery was dissolved in 1559. The wine-press house built in 1811 in the middle part of the vineyard site is a landmark of today’s winery.
