Please contact the estate directly for more information, questions or requests.
Weingut Prinz Salm
Rhineland-Palatinate – Germany
Germany’s oldest family-owned wine estate dates back to the year 1200 and has been going for 32 generations! The estate numbers among the best known and esteemed wines of Germany. Wine & Spirits Magazine has listed the estate as one of the world’s leading 100 estates and is a member of VDP, Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter e. V. according to the guidelines of Naturland (an association for organic agriculture)
History
Schloss Wallhausen which was built in 1565, is the family seat where 800 years and 32 generations of uninterrupted viticulture and family tradition are documented – a long period of time to acquire knowledge and experience, gain insight, and reflect on fundamental values and to pass them on to future generations.
Today, Prince Michael lives at the estate and he was able to expand it to its present size and move it into a prominent position in Germany. For 17 years he was the national president of the VDP – Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates) and remains an eminent personality in the wine scene to this day. His great-grandfather was a founding member of the Nahe regional branch of the VDP.His wife, Princess Philippa, originally a countess from the House of Castell-Castell, grew up in a Franconian wine dynasty.
In 1988 the conviction that his children should be able to eat grapes from the vines led him to opt for an organic viticulture and thus was one of the first leading German estates to do so.
The philosophy of the estate is that all employees are to be considerate, communicative and driven by the estate’s philosophy of exceptional winemaking. To bring Riesling back on everyone’s lips (and mouths!) is his goal, so he predominantly grows Riesling.
For his son Prince Felix, who is now the manager of the estate, wine making is very closely interlinked with his Christian beliefs. He wrote his thesis on how to combine the work at the winery with Christian ethical ideas.
The wine!
The estate covers 18ha of vineyards. As a winery the estate has many varieties to choose from. The best known and most versatile German grape variety is Riesling and plays the lead role on the estate. In addition to the focus on soils and layers, it is also the sweetness with which they emphasise the versatility of Riesling extensively.
Other grapes are also grown: Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir. The Princess Salm honour, innately born Countess Castell-Castell, gets the grape variety Silvaner – the leading grape of its homeland Franconia – a very special meaning attributed. The silvaner-parcel is small but mighty and every year one wine is made from this grape.
Examples of our fine wines available include:
2012 Charlachberg Bingen Riesling Grosses Gewächs: Nectarine paired with mild citrus fruits on the nose. Wide and powerful palate. In the finish ripe and red fruits aromas.
2013 Blanc de Noir Trocken: bright golden yellow with salmon-coloured reflections, fragrant fresh flavours of apples, pears and exotic fruits: densely advertised with fine enamel, feminine, round yet marked by fine acidity. A summer wine for many occasions.
2013 Grünschiefer Riesling: the Riesling Grünschiefer shows finesse in a medium- weight body with chewiness, restrained minerality and yellow peach flavours. It is a delight to drink.
Online live wine tastings
During the Covid-19 lockdown, the estate pioneered the idea of “Stay home and drink wine” by organising deliveries of their bottles (as well as wine from other vineyards) and then enjoying an online live wine tasting of those bottles with informal but informative explanations by Prince Felix accompanied by his charming wife Princess Victoria. Needless to say, it has been a great success and continues still now! https://www.prinzsalm.de/online-tasting-en.html
Discover the wine estate during a culture or wine tour! Find out what is behind the vintage and quality measures needed to produce magnificent wines. Enjoy a hearty lunch before enjoying a professional tasting. Please contact the estate to make an appointment.
In late summer, pack your waterproof clothing and be part of our grape harvest team to pick the grapes – and so experience that crucial step in the wine making process.
The rural vaulted cellar offers possibilities for business-to-business meetings. Beverages are available with food from our local caterers. In our inspiring environment you could link several activities, for example guided wine tours.
Surroundings - Wallhausen, Soonwald-Nahe Nature
Park and Naheweinstraβe (Nahe wine route),
Nearby Wallhausen holds plenty of events including the red wine festival in May in the historic castle, and in August the traditional fair. Wallhausen, with its 1600 inhabitants, not only offers the locals a soothing environment, but is also visited every year by many hundreds of visitors who enjoy the many different restaurants: Barthelmeh’s Gourmetservice, Gutsschänke Forum Vinum and Gutsschänke Gräfenbachkeller. All offer wine from the estate.
There are also various pleasant holiday residences and guesthouses for your overnight stay. (www.wallhausen.de)
The Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park lies between the Rhine, Nahe and Hunsrück and has numerous cycling and hiking trails through the forest. https://www.soonwaldsteig.de/
The Naheweinstraβe (Nahe wine route) offers various attractions including castles and monasteries, as well as the gemstone towns of Idar-Oberstein, Bad Kreuznach, Bad Sobernheim. It is a route along well known wine estates, and connects 35 wine villages along a 135 km route. Along the way you see castles and manors and other scenic views and to note the church of Pilgrimage Mariä Himmelfahrt in Spabrücken.
WELCOME TO THE PRINZ SALM WINERY!
We bring joy to people: with hand-made valuable wine, created out of conviction in harmony with nature.
