Kirchberg
The church of St. John in Castell, which was finished in 1788, can be seen from a distance and seems to tower over the small village with its population of 500. However, its role as regional church since the reformation in 1546 provides a justification for such an imposing building. The church is situated on a lower terrace on the slopes of the Schlossberg with its Alabaster inclusions. This pink-gray stone is also known as Franconian marble and was used to build the local altar. Thus, the Casteller Alabaster is not only a perfect soil for vines but also rather decorative.
The special characteristics of the Kirchberg (church hill) vineyard can be explained by its enclosed location by the village, its warm West-facing location and its soil’s proximity and likeness to the Schlossberg. The village protects the vineyard from the frequent winds from the West and captures the warmth of the late summer evenings. The Silvaner reflects these characteristics through warm fruit flavours, which are often reminiscent of pears.
The soil, deeper and more fertile than the Schlossberg above, gains its mineral character from the alabaster veins and the high level of chalk of the near Keuper Soil.
The close proximity of a good water source at the bottom of the hill creates wines with a fine mineral structure, juicy structure and great aging potential.
The excellent climate of the Kirchberg is home to numerous wild vineyard tulips, “Tulipa sylvestris”. Their smell and yellow colour give off a special flair in the vineyard during spring.
