Graf Adelmann Estate

Würtemberg region
Germany

On May 5, 1985 a 1983 Brüsseler Lemberger Kabinett dry from Graf Adelmann was the red wine served at a gala dinner in honor of President Ronald Reagan on his visit to West Germany.

It was Lothar Spaeth, then governor of Baden-Württemberg, who was convinced that a fine German red wine with its elegance and finesse would contribute greatly to this important occasion.

The Graf Adelmann wine was selected in a blind tasting from amongst many worthy candidates. It is not surprising then that the Graf Adelmann reds, enjoy great popularity locally and are sold almost exclusively in Germany.

The estate is located in the Bottwar valley where viticulture dates back to the 8th century. The Schaubeck family built Schaubeck Castle in the 13th century atop the remains of a Roman manor and began making wine there shortly thereafter. In the middle ages these wines were sold as "Schaubeckers" at Inns around Stuttgart and Vienna.

In 1853, General Major Baron Felix von Brüsseler from Austria inherited Schaubeck castle with its agricultural and vineyard holdings. The name de Brüsselle dates back to nobility in Belgium. It was Philibert de Bruesselle who fixed the name in history when he accepted the abdication of Emperor Charles V in the 16th century. Beginning with the von Brüsselle's the normal quality wines have been sold under the designation "Brüsseler", a corruption of the family name that fits in with the local Swabian dialect. The top wines are sold as "Brüsseler Spitze" (the highest quality Brüsseler) with a wonderful traditional label that uses a background of antique lace (another meaning of the German word Spitze). Brüsseler Spitze must be at least Spätlese ripeness.

Felix de Bruesselle really took to his new task and soon his  wines were winning medals at international expositions everywhere. His son had little interest in continuing at Schaubeck castle and left the estate to his sister who with her husband Heinrich Graf Adelmann took over the estate in 1914. Un­der his leadership the estate rose to the top echelon in Württemberg. Graf Heinrich was also active outside the wine trade as a diplomat and politician. He was elected three times as a representative to Parliament. His son Raban followed eagerly in his footsteps but died suddenly in 1935. At the young age of 23 his nephew, also Raban, assumed control. He had studied law and history at the universities of Bonn and Cologne and at Williams College in Massachusetts. He continued the tradition of producing high quality wines and also giving of his time to public service. In 1962 he was appointed NATO representative by Foreign Minister Heinrich von Brentano. Finally in 1967 he returned to Schaubeck castle and devoted his time exclusively to producing fine wines.

In 1978, his son Graf Michael took over the reins. Also a lawyer, who studied in Munich and Tübingen. He deeply believes in preserving tradition, while introducing new cellar technology only if it truly improves the quality of the wines.

The estate is regularly awared with medals and prizes for their wines and the wines are among the most rapidly sold out red wines in Germany. Journalist Mario Scheuermann lists Weingut Graf Adelmann as the only "class A" estate in Württemberg.
The poet Ludwig Uhland, and Chancellor Konrad Adenauer have all been admirers of the "Brüsseler" wines.

The Adelmann Estate is a member of the VDP Würtemberg.

Thumbnail Pictures
(click to enlarge):

Count Adelmann

Schloss Schaubeck

maturing wines

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