Princely Castell's domain

"We love Silvaner."

Peter Geil

Buy wines of Fürstlich Castell'sche Domäne

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In the Lower Franconian municipality of Castell is the Fürstlich Castell'sche Domäne, one of the oldest vineyards in Germany - belonging to the princely house of the same name, first mentioned in 1224. "It can be proven that the first Silvaner in Germany was planted here in 1659," says farm manager Peter Geil, referring en passant to the grape variety that is clearly the focus here.

Around 70 hectares of vineyards "are kept vital and healthy through sustainable circular management ... because only an active soil gives our vines support and supplies them ideally with nutrients and water."

Of the total of seven sites, five are monopollages. Some are 750 years old and planted with vines up to 50 years old. The Franconian continental climate, the proximity to the Steigerwald and, above all, the Triassic gypsum-keuper soils are characteristic here. The latter give the wines a distinctive minerality and longevity.

The Princely Family is also active in forestry. The forests around Castell provide the particularly fine-pored oak wood from which the barrels for ageing are made in the traditional manner.