LANIUS-KNAB WINERY – OBERWESEL
Wine Tasting on the Romantic River of Legends
The Middle Rhine Valley is a landscape that has evolved into the stuff of legends, from the story of the Loreley maiden (The Loreley Statue) to the ghosts of medieval knights echoing among the stones of ancient castles, and legends of wine. The Rhine River where it courses through the narrow valley of steep hillsides lined with vineyards has attracted poets, painters and tourists for over two hundred years, since being discovered by the Rhine Romantics. The composer Richard Wagner drew inspiration for his epic operas from the story of a dwarf so enamored of gold in the watery stream that he challenged the gods (a story borrowed by Tolkien which launched some billion dollar movies see Worms Cathedral Nebelungenlied). Aside from poets and story tellers for two centuries, the Middle Rhine has also attracted tourists, from the 19th Century romantics of Byron and the Shelleys (see Following the Rhine with the Romantics) who drank the wine of natural beauty, to modern day tourists looking for a romantic weekend adventure and some wine tasting.
The valley of the Rhine River between Mainz and Koblenz, where it flows in curving arcs though steep and chiseled hills, has been producing wines of unique character for 2,000 years. A rare combinaion of geology combining Rhenish slate infused soil and sun facing slopes have given the region, now designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, a special character to its dominant Rieslings white wine and a few select reds as well. The Rhine River terroir, where the soil and the climate can vary significantly at each curve of the river or narrow feeder valley can give wines from each vineyard, often neigboring one another from a stone’s throw, an unmistakeble and distinctive essence.
The Lanius Knab winery in Oberwesel is just one of hundreds of local vintners along the wine route of the Middle Rhine, but Jörg Lanius sees the vineyards that have been in his family for generations as a place where the mind can wonder and be inspired. The Lanius Knab vineyards are located on slopes within view of the romantic Schönburg Castle which stands over the historic and picturesque medieval walled village of Oberwesel (see Auf Schonburg Castle Hotel). The family winery is located in a small historic house in the center of town, just a few doors from the iconic red Church of Our Lady (Liebfrauenkirche).
According to Jörg Lanius, "Being a winemaker means living in and with nature. And the goal is to take the complexities and conditions of the soil, the climate and the weather and turn them into something that is recognizable, attributable to its origins and above all, drinkable.“ To the winemaker, this means that the unique character of each vintage is more influenced by the characteristics of the vineyard than of the cellars. The quality of the grapes delivers the quality of the wine, making each year’s vintage a distinctive product with the authenticity of nature and hopefully a result pleasing to the emotions as well as to the palate.
Wine Tasting at Lanius Knab
The Weingut Lanius-Knab Weingut at Mainzer Strasse 38 in Oberwesei is open Monday, Friday and Saturday 9am to 6pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 5 pm to 8 pm and Thurdsays 2pm to 6pm. Stop by for a casual tasting or for a more than casual encounter, the Lanius-Knab winery offers some more extravagant experiences for a special memory of the Middle Rhine.
Wine and History
Experience a selection of six wines of varying grades and styles while grades while learning about how the wine makes its way from the grape to the bottle, with a story of the history of winemaking, the Middle Rhine, Oberwesel and the Lanius-Knab Estate, and a visit into the historic wine cellar, one of the oldest in Oberwesel. Held every Monday at 5:30pm and Friday at 5pm. Price is €12 per person.
Wine and Medieval Spectaculum
The Lanius-Knab Estate offers a unique way to experince both its wines and the medieval past which characterizes the Middle Rhine region and Oberwesel. Jo, the Juggler, a jester-like character offers up a spectacle entertainment of magic tricks and fire-eating evocative of the Middle Ages while allowing a sampling of the Estate wines and a culinary offerings, with a bit of the hostory of winemaking in Oberwesel. Price is €35 per person.
Wine and Food
Wine is meant to be enjoyed with food, and on arranged for a group of a minimum of four to try six selected wines accompanied by a classic Rhenish meal and winemaker’s appetizers, in the dining room of the winery, make arrangements in advance by phone.
To enjoy Lanius-Knab wines with a full course meal, the winery is the supplier of the Weinhaus Weiler Restaurant in town which offers a special UNESCO Heritage Menu commemorating the the special character of the region (see World Heritage Menu Wienhaus Weiler) © Bargain
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Weingut Lanius-Knab
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See Also:
RHINE CASTLE HOTEL RHEINFELS - ST GOAR
RHEINGAU WINE MUSEUM - RÜDESHEIM
