The family business of the Counts of Schönborn, headquartered in Wiesentheid in Franconia (Germany), comprises the five business areas of agriculture, forestry, sawmill, pond management and gastronomy, in addition to viticulture. Since 1998, the entire business has been managed by Paul Graf von Schönborn. Vineyards in the Rheingau municipality of Winkel are documented as belonging to the noble family as early as 1349. This was the beginning of the tradition-steeped winegrowing of the Counts of Schönborn. The Schönborns were one of the first to fill their hand-picked wines in mouth-blown bottles as early as 1725. A 1735 "Johannisberger" from the domain's treasury is one of the earliest known bottled wines in Germany and still sets the standard for the most expensive wine in Germany. As one of the founding members of the VDP (Verband deutscher Prädikatsweingüter - Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates), the Counts of Schönborn have always placed particular emphasis on quality, Rheingau typicality and diversity of sites. Wineries are operated in the Rheingau and in Franconia.
Domänenweingut Schloss Schönborn - Hattenheim (Rheingau)
Domänenweingut Schloss Schönborn is located in the municipality of Hattenheim in the German wine-growing region of Rheingau. It is one of the oldest wine estates in Germany. In 2015, significant investments in the infrastructure, cellar technology and buildings of the winery were started under new management. The vineyards cover 45 hectares of vines in 33 renowned Rheingau single vineyard sites, which were acquired in the 17th and 18th centuries. These are, for example, Baiken (Rauenthal), Berg Schlossberg (Rüdesheim), Domdechaney, Hölle and Kirchenstück (Hochheim), Höllenberg (Assmannshausen), Klaus (Johannisberg), Kläuserweg and Rothenberg (Geisenheim), Marcobrunn (Erbach), Krone (Lorch), as well as Nussbrunnen, Pfaffenberg in sole ownership and Wisselbrunnen (Hattenheim). They are planted with Riesling (90%), as well as Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc. The wines are marketed in three lines: Gutsweine, single vineyards and Erste Gewächse. Bottle-fermented sparkling wines are also produced. Around 70% of the wines are exported.
In January 2021, the closure of the winery was announced by Paul Graf von Schönborn, but the winery in Franconia is unaffected. Ownership in the Rheingau will remain. This is to reduce complexities and improve economic development. Viticulture in Hattenheim will be carried out in cooperation with third-party wineries. Top Rheingau wines will continue to be offered in small quantities in order to continue the tradition. The top vineyards Erbacher Marcobrunn and Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg have been taken over as tenants by the Gunter Künstler winery.
Graf von Schönborn Schloss Hallburg - Volkach (Franconia)
The Graf von Schönborn Schloss Hallburg winery is located in the municipality of Volkach (Maindreieck area) in the Franconian wine-growing region. It has been in operation since 1806. The vineyards cover 35 hectares of vines in the single vineyard Kapellenberg and in the single vineyard Schlosspark (Gaibach), and also in the single vineyard Schlossberg (Hallburg). They are planted with the white wine varieties Müller-Thurgau, Silvaner, Riesling, Kerner, Bacchus, Rieslaner, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, as well as the red wine varieties Pinot Noir and Domina. The wines are marketed in the lines estate wines, single vineyards and star wines. Bottle-fermented sparkling wines are also produced.
Casa Cadaval - Ribatejo (Portugal)
Teresa Countess Alvares Pereira von Schönborn is the fifth generation of her family to run Casa Cadaval in Portugal near Lisbon. On 5,000 hectares of land, agriculture, the breeding of purebred Lousitanos horses and viticulture are practised here. The vineyards cover 53 hectares of vines in the Ribatejo region, 95% of which are planted with the red wine varieties Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira Preta, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Merlot.
Hattenheim Schloss Schönborn: By Marion Halft - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
Volkach Schloss Hallburg: By Derzno - Own work, CC BY 3.0, Link
