VINE

The Cistercian Order, founded in the 12th century, played a significant role in the spread of viticulture in Germany. While asceticism and poverty were part of the monastic rules, wine served both as sustenance and as a commodity. Around 850 years ago, monks therefore established a south-facing vineyard next to Maulbronn Monastery, founded around 1150. The vineyards featured easily warmed sandstone soil and slopes of up to 50 percent. These conditions, already recognized as ideal for viticulture, made the resulting wines highly sought after, even by the monks themselves.