Fürstlich Castell´sches Domänenamt e.K
Booth number: H311-07
castell.de
About us
The Princely Castell Domain
A wine village that is one of the oldest in Germany, the princely family in its 26th generation and a company bearing the same name: Castell. In addition to the princely Castell bank and the cultivation of forests and fields, Castell has been dedicated to wine for almost 800 years.
Germany's first Silvaner vines were planted in Castell in 1659, and to this day the local grape variety is at the heart of the winery, which works according to the strict guidelines of the Association of German Predicate Wine Estates (VDP) and is one of the pioneers of the first classification in Franconia.
Its greatest potential lies in the seven VDP-classified individual vineyards with valuable soils, five of which are monopole vineyards, some of which are over 750 years old and planted with vines that are up to 50 years old. Castell works consistently close to nature and with the greatest respect for creation in order to pass them on to future generations.
The climatic conditions in Castell are ideal for viticulture, with the forest playing an important role: in summer it brings freshness, in winter it has a protective effect. This interplay results in mineral white wines and structured red wines that display a clear, purist style and are clearly characterized by the minerality of the gypsum keuper.
Whether Franconian dry or noble sweet, Casteller wines are always distinguished by their maturity and convincing longevity, which is why they are matured in wooden barrels made in the region from oak from the region's own forests according to traditional craftsmanship.
Address
Schloßplatz 5
97355 Castell
Germany
E-mail: weingut@castell.de
Phone: +49 9325 601 60
Internet: castell.de
Contact person:
Elisabeth Finkbeiner
E-mail: elisabeth.finkbeiner@castell.de
Products & Services
We have been working according to the strict guidelines of the Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates VDP for many years and are among the pioneers of the first classification in Franconia. Our fully fermented dry wines clearly reflect their Franconian home in the Steigerwald. The basis of all our work is the valuable soil. In order to pass them on to our descendants in good health, we work consistently close to nature and with the greatest respect for creation. It is our primary goal to keep them vital and healthy with all their nutrients, microorganisms and microbes through sustainable recycling management, because only an active soil gives our vines support and provides them with an ideal supply of nutrients and water. The vineyard and cellar work hand in hand and with a great deal of sensitivity in order to harvest the grapes in perfect ripeness, which is extremely important, especially in the gypsum keuper. Critical self-reflection is our constant companion. We know that there is no such thing as a recipe. That's why we are constantly evolving. We deliberately leave more lees in the must for fermentation and we ferment spontaneously in the perfect climate of our castle cellar. We also allow our wines to mature for an extended period of time in large wooden barrels made from oak from our own forests.
The VDP estate wines from our winery epitomise Franconia, the Steigerwald, our own vineyards and thus the Domäne Castell par excellence. Never superficial or even banal, always a little demanding and yet the right wine for every day for every wine lover. The focus here is on the freshness of the grape variety, which should offer uncomplicated drinking pleasure.
The VDP.Ortswein is an ambassador for Castell, for the Steigerwald and the origin from our own vineyards. A wine that reflects the Silvaner grape variety and the Castell terroir with its freshness, juiciness and fine flavour. A versatile food companion with drinking pleasure.
Of the seven VDP-classified single vineyards around Castell, five are monopole vineyards, some of which are over 750 years old and planted with vines up to 50 years old. The CASTELLER SCHLOSSBERG, classified as a VDP GROSSE LAGE, towers high above the village. The four VDP.ERSTE LAGEN HOHNART, KUGELSPIEL, TRAUTBERG and REITSTEIG are also in our sole ownership. They are joined by two further VDP.ERSTE LAGEN, KIRCHBERG and BAUSCH. We pay the utmost attention to all these special sites, which are clustered around the wine village of Castell.
Our top wines are true individualists and the playing field for our cellar masters. Here, new wine styles are combined with tried and tested methods at the highest level. Whether it's a Gemischter Satz aged in granite barrels, a powerful Bordeaux blend from a steep slope or a homage to the first Silvaner planting in Castell with the ageing of Silvaner in small oak barrels in the Burgundian style. Here it is worth leaving the familiar flavour corridor and getting involved in something new.
The south-west facing steep slope with a gradient of up to 55% is the highest point in the village and is named after the old castle, the ancestral seat of the House of Castell. There is documentary evidence that the Schlossberg has been planted with vines rooted in slate-crushed gypsum keuper since 1266. The gypsum keuper here is characterised by a high proportion of alabaster. The raw soil, with only a very thin layer of humus-rich topsoil, forces the vines in this VDP.GROSSEN LAGE to drive their roots into the primary rock, the myophoric and estheric layers. This decisively characterises the wines and allows the minerality of the soil to be tasted. The long-lasting evening sun and favourable westerly winds ensure aromatically concentrated, balanced and long-lasting Silvaner wines.
2023 Silvaner trocken VDP.Gutswein
Fully ripe yellow apple on the nose. The juicy character is immediately apparent on the palate - harmonious, full-bodied, almost universally applicable and a light herbal flavour typical of Keuper make our VDP.GUTSWEIN Silvaner a wonderful introduction to our multifaceted world of Silvaner and a calling card for the house.
2022 Pinot Noir VDP.Gutswein
Flavours of raspberry and sour cherry are complemented by tobacco leaves, white pepper and hints of eucalyptus. On the palate, it impresses with silky tannins and a fine acidity, which gives the wine length and enormous elegance. Our Pinot Noir goes just as well with autumnal cuisine as it does slightly chilled at the barbecue in summer.
2023 Casteller Silvaner trocken VDP.ORTSWEIN
Aromas of yellow apple combine with cool hints of lemon mint on the nose. On the palate, the taut, finely integrated acidity provides support and structure. A savoury saltiness reflects the Casteller terroir and the finely crushed gypsum keuper. An ideal accompaniment to food.
2022 Kugelspiel Silvaner trocken VDP.ERSTE LAGE
The name of this location probably goes back to a bowling alley that was located here on the edge of the forest. The morning sun warms the sandy-loamy soil. The wooded hilltop to the west protects the vineyards and creates a temperate climate. Delicate wines with herbal flavours and mineral density grow here.
Fresh apple and star fruit on the nose. Filigree elegance and slightly reductive components create tension on the palate. The cool structure and dried herbs convey the unmistakable typicality of the Kugelspiel.
2019 CASTELLER SCHLOSSBERG Silvaner trocken | VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS
With a slope of up to 55%, it is the highest point in the village and is named after the old castle, the ancestral seat of the House of Castell. There is documentary evidence that the Schlossberg has been planted with vines rooted in slatey gypsum keuper since 1266. The gypsum keuper here is characterised by a high proportion of alabaster. The raw soil with only a very thin layer of humus-rich topsoil forces the vines in this VDP.GROSSEN LAGE to drive their roots into the primary rock, the Myophoria and Estheria layers. This decisively characterises the wines and makes the minerality of the soil palpable. The long-lasting evening sun and favourable westerly winds produce aromatically concentrated, balanced and long-lasting Silvaner wines.
Herbal and ethereal spices alternate with bright hints of acacia and jasmine on the nose. The terroir of the gypsum keuper is complex and dense, with a hint of tannin and a fine acid structure on the palate. Juicy, yet extremely long-lasting, our Silvaner from the Schlossberg impresses with its radiant elegance and complexity.
