1976 Dürkheimer Spielberg Scheurebe Beerenauslese
Lusciously sweet dessert wine · Weinkellerei Schloss Koblenz (Erzeugerabfüllung W.G. Bad Dürkheim)
Vintage: 1976
Type
Lusciously sweet dessert wine
Producer
Weinkellerei Schloss Koblenz (Erzeugerabfüllung W.G. Bad Dürkheim)
Country
Germany
Vintage
1976
Region & Appellation
Rheinpfalz (Pfalz), Germany
Grape Varieties
Scheurebe (100%)
Color & Appearance
Deep golden amber with copper highlights, showing clear signs of advanced bottle age, heavy viscosity, and slow-moving, thick legs on the glass.
Aroma Profile
Intensely concentrated tertiary aromas of dried apricot, marmalade, honey, beeswax, candied citrus peel, subtle petrol notes, and roasted nuts.
Tasting Notes
A decadent and rich palate entry with soaring acidity that cuts effortlessly through the immense sweetness, delivering layers of dried tropical fruits, caramel, and spice on an endless finish.
Flavor Profile
Dominated by flavors of dried mango, orange marmalade, honeyed figs, beeswax, toasted hazelnuts, and a distinct hint of aged botrytis complexity.
Body & Texture
Full-bodied with a rich, unctuous, and viscous mouthfeel that coats the palate completely, balanced beautifully by vibrant, mature acidity.
Acidity & Tannins
High, vibrant acidity providing crucial structural freshness to balance the high residual sugar. No tannins, as is typical for white sweet wines.
Sweetness Level
Lusciously sweet Beerenauslese level with high residual sugar, expertly balanced by natural acidity.
Alcohol Content
10.5% ABV
Aging & Oak
Aged primarily in traditional neutral German oak casks (Stückfässer) for an extended period prior to bottling, focusing on pure varietal expression and botrytis character.
Food Pairings
Blue cheeses like Roquefort or Gorgonzola, fruit tarts, foie gras, or rich chess pies. The acidity cuts through the fat while matching the intense sweetness.
Serving Suggestions
Serve chilled at 8-10°C (46-50°F) in a standard white wine glass or specialized dessert wine glass. Decanting is not strictly necessary, but standing the bottle upright beforehand helps settle any sediment.
Price Range
Estimated $100 to $250 USD depending on provenance, auction availability, and fill levels.
Quality Assessment
An exceptional, rare museum-quality Beerenauslese from a legendary warm German vintage, holding up remarkably well due to the high sugar and acidity of the Scheurebe grape.
Production Methods
Hand-harvested late in the season with individual bunch selection of overripe grapes affected by noble rot (Botrytis cinerea), gently pressed, and slowly fermented in traditional vessels.
Terroir
The Dürkheimer Spielberg vineyard features limestone-rich soils, sandstone weathering, and a protected microclimate in the Haardt mountains, ideal for developing rich, aromatic botrytized grapes.
History & Heritage
Schloss Koblenz and local cooperative winemaking in Bad Dürkheim have a rich heritage of producing and bottling fine Palatinate wines, highlighting historical German Prädikat designations.
Interesting Facts
The 1976 vintage in Germany is widely celebrated as one of the greatest and most historic warm-weather vintages of the 20th century, producing legendary sweet wines with incredible longevity.
Cellaring Potential
Fully mature and deep into its peak drinking window. While safely stored bottles can still offer immense pleasure, it should be consumed soon after opening.
Similar Wines
Older vintage German Riesling or Scheurebe Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese from the Pfalz or Rheinhessen regions.