A few weeks ago, I was once again back at CASTELL WINERY in Franconia (my home turf!), visiting my export liaison extraordinaire Elisabeth Finkbeiner, Linda Kalka, who keeps all the wines and logistics in order, and winemaker extraordinaire Peter Geil.
As the exclusive Castell partner in Singapore through WineProvisionShop, I always enjoy these visits – not just for the wine, but also to see what is happening in the vineyards and the cellar… and, of course, for the after-party at a wonderfully simple local restaurant!
First off: the 2026 vintage in Franconia was a pretty extreme one. A very dry and hot summer, lots of vineyard work needed to keep the vines happy, very small and concentrated grapes, and then a seriously fast harvest, which started literally the morning after my visit. The experienced Castell team picked everything in just 11 days, from the first grapes on 1 September to the last Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot on 15 September. Quite a ride!
But what really caught my attention were two new wines coming up:
Castell Sauvignon Blanc? From old vines in the lower part of the vineyard and made in a way that really lets the freshness and character come through. Crisp, clean, slightly herbal, and seriously fun to drink. I have a feeling this one will surprise a few people who think German wine = Riesling and Silvaner. I even took a sample bottle back to my parents’ garden - and I must say, it performed very well there!
And then there is Alabaster! This one is super interesting, a rather unusual old-school blend of Silvaner, Riesling, Weißburgunder, Traminer and Österreichisch Weiß (both father and mother grape of Silvaner originally called Österreicher…), grown on those distinctive gypsum/alabaster soils around Castell. Spontaneous fermentation, a year on the lees in Castell oak, lots of texture and that beautiful, almost salty/mineral finish.
And once again, I found the reds noticeably better than last year. Is it the climate… or climate + Peter Geil’s talent? Completely different wines - but all very Castell!
Now I just need to be patient until they make their way to Singapore…
Thank you, Elisabeth, Linda & Peter, for another great tasting & great visit!
