Weingut Emrich-Schönleber

The history of the estate traces back to the middle of the 18th century through the records of the Emrich family. For several generations, the family operated a mixed farm in the village of Monzingen that included livestock and general agriculture alongside viticulture. The transition to a dedicated wine estate began in the mid-1960s under the direction of Wilhelm and Werner Schönleber. During this period, the family expanded their vineyard holdings from an initial two hectares to approximately ten hectares by 1985. Frank Schönleber joined his father Werner in 2005 and eventually assumed full responsibility as the estate owner and cellarmaster in 2018.

The winery currently manages 20 hectares of vineyards located in the western reaches of the Nahe region. The portfolio is centered on two primary sites, the Halenberg and Frühlingsplätzchen, both of which are classified as VDP Grosse Lage. Halenberg consists of steep, south-facing slopes with gradients reaching 70 percent and soils dominated by blue slate and quartzite. In contrast, Frühlingsplätzchen features south-southwest exposures with red slate and gravel interspersed with red loam. Farming is conducted with a focus on sustainability, utilizing manual labor for vine maintenance and selective harvesting. Winemaking involves spontaneous fermentation in both stainless steel tanks and traditional large oak casks known as Stückfass.

Riesling is the primary variety and accounts for 85 percent of the estate’s production, followed by Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. The producer is best known for its dry Rieslings, specifically the flagship Halenberg Grosses Gewächs and the Frühlingsplätzchen Grosses Gewächs. Another significant bottling is the Mineral Riesling, which is a dry wine produced from younger vines situated in the grand cru sites. The estate also produces the Auf der Ley Grosses Gewächs from a specific parcel rediscovered by the family. Since joining the VDP in 1994, the Schönlebers have been credited with restoring the prestige of Monzingen’s steep slate slopes in the international wine market.