Egon Müller zu Scharzhof - Scharzhofberger Riesling Auslese 1979

This report describes the Egon Müller zu Scharzhof - Scharzhofberger Riesling Auslese 1979, one of the wine world's most iconic rarities, which is still eagerly watched at auctions today (2026). Research confirms that the wine itself can usually only be found at exorbitant prices at high-calibre auctions.

🏰 The Egon Müller winery - a legend on the Saar

The Egon Müller-Scharzhof winery is an international star in the firmament of wine culture. The Scharzhof has been privately owned since 1797. Back then, the family acquired the vineyards from church property and gradually expanded this core over the centuries.

• Generational project: For four generations, the estate has been run by an Egon Müller and passed on seamlessly. This impressive continuity is the foundation for a perfect understanding of the unique terroir.

• Today's size:With around 90 hectares of land and an annual production of around 80,000 bottles, the winery is not one of the largest in the region, but the strict sorting of the grapes ensures the highest quality.

• Cult status:Egon Müller's noble sweet Rieslings, above all the top wines Beerenauslese (BA), Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA) and Eiswein, regularly achieve top prices on the world market and are regarded as the benchmark of all things.

🏞️ The Scharzhofberger site - the terroir of the century

The "Scharzhofberger" is the highest classified vineyard not only on the Saar, but in the whole of Germany (VDP.Große Lage). Its unique terroir characterises the identity of the wine and is the reason for its unrivalled longevity.

• Soil: The permeable soil consists of heavily weathered, ancient Devonian slate, which gradually warms the rock and thus stores heat. This produces grapes with maximum minerality and deep, often smoky-salty flavours.

• Microclimate: The plots are situated on an extremely steep south-southeast-facing slope at an altitude of up to 300 metres. The harsh, windy climate with strong day-night fluctuations is ideal for long, healthy ripening of the grapes well into the autumn.

☀️ The 1979 vintage - a great, long-lasting classic

The 1979 vintage on the Saar is one of the great, long-lasting vintages of the late 20th century. After a bitterly cold winter, the vines recovered, blossomed splendidly and ripened under ideal sunny conditions well into October. This perfect combination of physiological ripeness and aromatic complexity still gives old 1979s an unmistakable freshness today.

🍯 The Auslese label - the art of selection

An Auslese is strictly selected from fully ripe, hand-picked grapes. At Egon Müller, this is the basis for the finest, honey-like sweetness and an inimitable interplay of flavours of ripe peach, apricots, flowers and delicate exotic notes. The wine matures for an extremely long time - Egon Müller's Auslese wines are among the longest-lived in the world and often only realise their full potential after decades.

🥂 Tasting profile (traced 2026) - A roundelay of superlatives

The bouquet and flavour of this 1979 reveal a richness and depth that is hard to beat. The sometimes slightly contradictory notes of famous critics are nothing more than the different stages of development of such a masterpiece.

• Nose (fragrance):Highly complex with an elegant mix of ripe pear, white cherries, rose petals, fresh mint, candied mandarin and a hint of walnut & beeswax. There is also a subtle mineral salinity and delicately roasted, oxidative-honey notes.

• Palate (flavour): The attack is dense, concentrated and creamy, but glides gently into a completely balanced sweetness. The lively, "racy" acidity provides a triumphant freshness that makes the wine appear lighter than its age would suggest. It resembles a heavy marble cake of pure, bright flavours.

• Finish (aftertaste):Extremely long, with hovering honey, light peach, refreshing lime and a bright tingle of acidity that lasts for minutes.

📜 Collector's value & rarity (as of 2026) - A precious jewel through and through

This wine is a mythical classic and one of the most sought-after collector's items ever. Prices vary considerably depending on the condition of the bottles and their provenance.

In May 2026, the market looks as follows:

• Current offers:

  • A single bottle on "greatestwines.com" was listed at €850. It is listed on other portals with prices between € 695 and € 914.

  • The rare gold capsule variation (the very finest selection of the house) is traded at $1,728 (excl. tax), which is even higher.

• Historical auctions:

  • An excellently preserved vintage, in a case of 6 (normal fill) with a gold capsule achieved a valuation of $2,000 to $3,000 in May 2015.

  • A single bottle in very good condition (slightly stained label, light capsule) was traded for €850 in 2022.

  • A pure collector's bottle in a historic 0.35 litre miniature also testifies to the early cult status of this house.

• Conclusion on the market value:

  • Normal filling: ~800 € to 950 €

  • Gold capsule: ~1,700 € to 2,800 €

  • Multiple collections: depending on the number and condition in the low five-figure range.

Important:* Due to its age, the fill level, cork and storage history are decisive for the residual value and the risk of consumption.

✨ Conclusion - a milestone in the art of Riesling

The Egon Müller zu Scharzhof - Scharzhofberger Riesling Auslese 1979 is not just a wine. It is a living monument to German viticulture, an undisputed classic of pure, sparkling pleasure that seems to outlast the millennia. A perfectly preserved bottle reflects the pure soul of the legendary Scharzhofberg and the masterful work of one of the world's greatest wine guardians.

Note:This report summarises the information available on this exceptional wine. Prices and availability may fluctuate due to the difficult-to-manage, individual auction market.