After an exciting drive through the romantic and beautiful scenery around the Rhein and the Mosel, we arrive at the idyllic location of Burg Schwarzenstein. This spectacular hotel and restaurant is situated in the village of Johannisberg on a hill in the middle of the vineyards with an exquisite view on the Rheingau area. With more than 350 winemakers in the valley, there’s certainly much to see and taste.
A rich history and heritage, and a bright future
The history of Burg Schwarzenstein dates back to the late 19th century, when the Mumm von Schwarzenstein family had a romantic castle reminiscent of medieval architecture converted into a summer residence by the architect F. Schädel. The picturesque structure in a dreamlike location on the heights of the Rheingau, but without social or family life, changed in 1958 with the sale of the Mumm winery to the Oetker family, including the ownership of the castle. The Hamburg architect Professor Caesar Pinnau, fascinated by the constructional fragment of the castle, designed in the interior of the castle a chic restaurant to taste Mumm’s wines, accompanied by selected dishes. Since then the castle was renovated in style and elaborately turned into a wonderful restaurant and hotel complex. Since 2007 the Hotel Burg Schwarzenstein has been a member of the international association Relais & Châteaux. And today the whole complex is owned by the Family Foundation Burg Schwarzenstein.
The property is managed by Michael and Stephanie Teigelkamp. Although they’re not from the Rheingau region originally – Stephanie was born near Düsseldorf and Michael is from Hessen – they instantly fell in love when they found the property and they immediately saw the opportunities to turn it into a luxurious hideaway. They started off quite modestly with only 11 rooms in the historical castle and one restaurant. In 2005 the Burgrestaurant was awarded its first Michelin star. In 2009 they opened a second restaurant, as they felt the need to add an accessible restaurant with tasty German cuisine and great local wines to their fine dining offering which was already in place. In 2016 chef Nils Henkel joined the team and in no time Restaurant Schwarzenstein became one of the best fine dining restaurants in Germany.
While Burg Schwarzenstein was a very simple hotel and restaurant in the beginning, merely focused on hikers and cyclists, the Teigelkamps have turned the location into a popular place for weddings and meetings as well. The romantic setting of the castle with its incredibly beautiful views on the vineyards is perfect for (both international and local) wedding parties, while the private, state-of- the-art meeting rooms with easy parking facilities and a convenient location just 50 km from Frankfurt is ideal for business guests. On weekends the hotel fills up with leisure and wedding guests, while business travellers are more common on weekdays. Through the years they’ve expanded the number of rooms as well, to 52 in total as to today. Attracting enough guests can be challenging at times for a landscape hotel compared to a city hotel, so that’s why networks like Relais & Châteaux, JRE or Michelin are important, just like making enough promotion via social and digital media. People won’t just pass by. For the future they think about building a spa and wellness area to meet the expectations of leisure guests. But at the moment they are already almost fully booked every weekend.
Michael and Stephanie Teigelkamp know very well what topnotch service and hospitality is all about. Every detail at Burg Schwarzenstein is well thought through. For Stephanie and Michel Teigelkamp, the emphasis is always on individual, personal customer service. “A hotel lives with and through its employees. It’s the little details – perhaps a big smile or a little gesture – which make the atmosphere in our hotel so special.” And for that little extra warm welcome their sweet and old chocolate castle dog is always there.
An authentic hideaway with modern comfort and exclusiveness
Everything at Burg Schwarzenstein invites guests to dream and enjoy. A haven of hospitality is ensconced behind the walls of the heritage-protected building: a fine oasis of tranquillity with beautiful rooms and excellent cuisine.
Characterizing the landscape the Burg Schwarzenstein vineyard is of course one of the highlights of this location. Not only the view is amazing, the taste is a nice discovery as well. Of the 4 hectares of vineyards that lay next to the castle several wine are made specifically for Burg Schwarzenstein. For the production of the wines there’s a collaboration with the renowned local winemakers of Mumm. Besides wines Burg Schwarzenstein also has their own bees, producing their own unique honey in collaboration with a local beekeeper from Johannisberg.
Burg Schwarzenstein consist of several buildings, with the Park Residence as its main hotel accommodation. The 40 rooms create an atmosphere of simplicity, luxury and cultivated elegance. Spacious and light, the rooms are decorated with dark wenge wood, light and warm fabrics and homely and stylish accessories. The bathrooms offer plenty of room and have underfloor heating, rain shower systems and Hermès amenities.
Next to the Park Residence there are six romantic double rooms within the historic castle walls. The rooms are all individually styled and perfect for guests seeking a little calm and relaxation in the Rhine area. Various colour nuances such as sage green, ruby red and cream give every room its individual appeal. Select antiques complement the historic charm.
The Guest House is on the wooded part of the Burg Schwarzenstein estate and houses two double rooms and two single rooms. A romantic walk through the park takes you to the hotel and the two restaurants. All rooms have a unique atmosphere and are furnished with great attention to detail.
Culinary pleasures at Burg Schwarzenstein
Burg Schwarzenstein is the ideal culinary weekend escape, featuring no less than three restaurants.
Breakfast is served in the historical castle in the Burgrestaurant, offering a lovely outdoor patio where you can enjoy an outdoor start of the day with culinary delights like Eggs Benedict, pancakes or a selection of meats, cheeses, dairy, fruits, and much more from the buffet. The extraordinary views on the vineyards are complimentary and create memories that won’t be forgotten.
Lunch and dinner can also be enjoyed at the Burgrestaurant. Rheingau joy of living and the best from the kitchen and the cellar hold out the promise of regional culinary delights. The ingredients originate almost exclusively from regional producers, the Rieslings from wine grower friends from the Rheingau. Chef de cuisine Marco Stenger, and host and maître d´Hôtel Tim Buchmann and the whole team do everything they can to offer the guests a pleasant dining experience. On the menu you’ll find classic preparations of veal, beef and fish. As a starter we sampled the beef tartar with chanterelles and a lime crème fraiche, as well as the French snails with herb butter and baguette. The main courses we chose were the char with green asparagus and cream cheese ravioli and the ling with watercress risotto and fried leek.
Another restaurant at Burg Schwarzenstein is the fairly new Restaurant Grill & Wine. The dishes are creative, lively and fresh. The informal atmosphere comes alive thanks to brightly polished wooden tables and the spirited service staff that serves many open wines and freshly tapped beer. On the menu there are specialties prepared on the Josper Charcoal Grill. The meat comes from the local butcher Bernd Glasstetter from the Black Forest region and is perfectly dry aged. For those who don’t fancy a nice piece of beef, dishes like chicken breast, pork belly or bratwurst are definitely worth a try. As a starter we had the lobster tail from the charcoal grill, combined with Libanese couscous and mint yogurt. Then we tried the entrecôte and the lamb rack with spinach, vadouvan and berzelknödel. And for dessert we tasted the mascarpone trifle with strawberries and rhubarb ginger sorbet, as well as the dark chocolate tart with blackberries and muscovado caramel ice cream.
The culinary flagship of Burg Schwarzenstein is of course Restaurant Schwarzenstein, lead by the famous chef Nils Henkel. In an elegant designed dining room with a pleasant terrace and stunning views on the vineyards, guests are spoiled with haute cuisine dishes and a very attentive service. With his cuisine in close touch with nature, Nils Henkel stands for his own special style. The Fauna Menu is convincing with the best products from the countryside and the water, intelligently paired with the aromas of the world. The Flora Menu showcases all types of vegetables and wild herbs from the region, without fish or meat. A perfectly matching selection of wines as well as an extraordinary alcohol-free accompaniment complete the two menus in an exciting manner. Restaurant Schwarzenstein in one of the best restaurants from the region, holding 2 Michelin stars, 18/20 in the Gault&Millau Guide and previous nominations for the list of The Best Chef Awards 2018. Chef Nils Henkel has an impressive track record, being a chef in one of Germany’s Best restaurants Lerbach. Henkel was also voted Cook of the Year 2017 by the magazine “Der Feinschmecker” and Gault&Millau named Henkel Chef of the Year in 2009. To discover more details about Restaurant Schwarzenstein, check out the dedicated review we’ve written about the restaurant.
In short
The romantic scenery of the vineyards of the Rheingau is the perfect setting for a luxurious gastronomic escape. At Hotel Burg Schwarzenstein you can enjoy the elegant, comfortable rooms, the historical castle and no less than three restaurants of which Nils Henkel’s Restaurant Schwarzenstein – with its two Michelin stars – is the culinary highlight. Let the attentive staff spoil you with tasty food and great local wines while you enjoy the stunning views from the hill.
Practical information
Burg Schwarzenstein, Rosengasse 32, 65366 Geisenheim-Johannisberg, Germany | +49 (0)6722 – 99 50-0 | info@burg-schwarzenstein.de | www.burg-schwarzenstein.de |
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