TERROIR PROFILE
Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell)
Gypsum-Keuper power
Steigerwald: powerful, smoky Silvaner and Riesling from gypsum Keuper.
Climate, site & wine
Gypsum Keuper with Schilfsandstein warms quickly and holds its heat for a long time. Silvaner becomes powerful, spicy and clearly mineral here.
Castell is documented as the site of the first Silvaner planting in Franconia, in 1659. Riesling and Scheurebe show spice and bite on the same soils, with Spätburgunder as the red addition. Iphofen, with about 290 hectares of vines, is one of Franconia's largest wine communes; a gypsum works is also based there. The wines are considered very mineral-rich.
TERROIR PROFILE · Franconia
Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) Gypsum-Keuper power
Steigerwald: powerful, smoky Silvaner and Riesling from gypsum Keuper.
SOILS
Keuper marlpowerful, iron-red
Keuper marl with high iron content gives Lemberger and Pinot Noir powerful, spicy depth.
Marlbalanced, structured
Marl is a mix of limestone and clay — yields structured, balanced wines with acidity backbone.
Sandstonewarm, dry, spicy
Sandstone warms quickly and yields ripe, fragrant wines with yellow fruit and fine spice.
CLIMATE · Cool continental
The Steigerwald edge has a continental climate. The adjoining forests shield the vines from icy cold in winter and send cool air through the rows in summer; ripening is late.
TOPOGRAPHY · moderate
The vineyards lie on the western slopes of the Steigerwald near Iphofen, Rödelsee and Castell, with the forest behind them to the east and views towards the Main valley.
WHAT IT MEANS IN THE GLASS
Similar terroirs worldwide
Computed from fingerprint similarity
Bourgogne · Côte de Beaune
Burgundy
96% similar
- Dryness (slightly): Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) is drier → more concentrated, denser, smaller berries (6 vs. 5).
Bourgogne · Côte de Nuits
Burgundy
94% similar
- Dryness (slightly): Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) is drier → more concentrated, denser, smaller berries (6 vs. 5).
- Body (slightly): Steigerwald (Iphofen–Castell) gives more body → fuller, more powerful wines (7 vs. 6).
Wineries on this terroir
See all 76 →Fürstlich Castell'sches Domänenamt
Castell
Renown 74/100
Weingut Weltner
Rödelsee
Renown 70/100
Weingut Roth
Wiesenbronn
Renown 60/100
Weingut Wirsching
Iphofen
Renown 51/100
Weingut Johann Ruck
Iphofen
Renown 37/100
Weingut u. Winzerhof Emmerich
Mönchsondheim
Renown 10/100
Weingut Weigand
Mönchsondheim
Renown 7/100
Weingut Johann Arnold
Mönchsondheim
Renown 7/100
This terroir's soils in the glossary