The Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015) covered 3 German wine areas (Baden, Pfalz and Rheinhessen) and Alsace. While our first stop in the Baden area was in the northern part of Baden, near the town of Baden-Baden (Weingut Schloss Neuweier), the other 4 producers we visited in Baden (Salwey, Franz Keller, Dr. Heger and Bernhard Breuer) were in the southern part of Baden, near the town of Freiburg. Colmar in France is at the same latitude and in fact, you could see the vineyards of Alsace.
I already provided an overview about the tour here: Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
This posting focuses on our visit of Weingut Salwey.
We tasted both in the wine cellar and at the large table in the courtyard. We started out in the barrique cellar, moved then to the large table in the courtyard and went back to the wine cellar, with the large Stückfass barrels.
Benno Salwey was our host.
Weingut Salwey
Weingut Salwey is located in Oberrotweil in the Kaiserstuhl area. The Salwey family has been making wine since the mid 18-hundreds. Today it is owned and run by Konrad Salwey.
Weingut Salwey was founded in the 1950s by Benno Salwey, the grandfather of Konrad, as a mixed farming operation with animals. The adjustment to winemaking only took place in the 1970s. In 1985, Wolf-Dietrich Salwey, Konrad’s father took over the family operation. Weingut Salwey has been operated by Konrad Salway, the third generation, since the death of his father, Wolf-Dietrich, in 2011.
Konrad Salwey has 2 brothers and a sister. The sister is now in charge of Weingut Rinzberghof, north of Freiburg, which Wolf Diedrich Salwey bought at age 23. Benno Salway, who was our host, studied physics and just got his Ph.D. The third brother is not involved in winemaking.
Spät-, Grau-, and Weissburgunder
The Burgundy grapes always played a central role at this winery. Wolf Dietrich Salwey devoted much attention to the Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Gris, and became sort of an unofficial ambassador for Pinots from Baden. Konrad Salwey inherited his father’s passion for the Pinot varieties. The white wines are vinified in large oak casks; Spätburgunder, in native barriques. The Salweys have a special affinity with Grauburgunder, which has become a hallmark of the estate.
The climate there is Mediterranean, yet not too dry. This interplay provides excellent conditions for high-quality viticulture. Some 40 hectares (nearly 100 acres) of vines are grown on slopes of loess and weathered vocanic stone; in the Glottertal site, weathered gneiss. Grape varieties: 40% Spätburgunder, 40% Grauburgunder, 18% Weissburgunder. Weingut Salwey is one of the bigger producers around Kaiserstuhl.
Classification System
Weingut Salwey always used a 3 tier quality classification for its wines. It is currently in the process of adjusting it to fully comply with the VDP classification. When we visited Weingut Salwey, the wines were presented in the following 3 quality classes:
First, Gutswein wines – fresh and crisp entry-level wines. Gutsweine are Weingut Salwey’s bestsellers.
Second, Reserve Salwey (RS) wines – the white wines are aged in large, old oak barrels, the red wines in barrique.
Third, Grosses Gewächs wines – the top quality level, from specific (the best) vineyards (Lagenweine). Again, the white wines are aged in large, old oak barrels, the red wines in barrique.
Weingut Salwey’s portfolio also includes Sekt made in the tradional mehtod and brandies.
The Wines Benno Salwey Poured
In general Weingut Salwey is going for an early harvest each year so the alcohol percentage remains low and the grapes keep fresh. Konrad likes to make elegant and fresh wines.
For all the wines we tasted, the remaining sugar level was in 1 g/l to 2 g/l range. The alcohol level was typically 12.5 %.
2014 Weingut Salwey Weissburgunder Gutswein Kabinett
2013 Weingut Salwey Weissburgunder + Chardonnay Gutswein
2014 Weingut Salwey Grauburgunder Gutswein Kabinett
The white Gutswein wines are fermented and aged in stainless steel.
2013 Weingut Salwey Weissburgunder RS
The white RS wines are fermented and aged in large (used) oak barrels.
2013 Weingut Salwey Grauburgunder RS
80% comes from loess soils in the Käsleberg. The remaining 20% has the origin in the grand cru plots in the Henkenberg and Eichberg where the roots bury themselves in old vulcanic soil.
2013 Weingut Salwey Henkenberg Weissburgunder GG
The Like the RS wines the white GG wines are fermented and aged in large (used) oak barrels.
2013 Weingut Salwey Kirchberg Weissburgunder GG
2013 Weingut Salwey Henkenberg Grauburgunder GG
The Henkenberg, on the road from Oberrotweil to Burkheim, is Weingut Salwey’s most important vineyards for grand cru Grauburgunder. The vulcanic soil dominates but is complemented with loess and calcareous clay on the top.
2013 Weingut Salwey Eichberg Grauburgunder GG
2012 Weingut Salwey Spätburgunder Gutswein
The red Gutswein wines are fermented and aged in used barrique.
2012 Weingut Salwey Spätburgunder RS
2013 Weingut Salwey Spätburgunder RS
The red RS wines are fermented and aged in new and used barrique.
2012 Weingut Salwey Henkenberg Spätburgunder GG
2012 Weingut Salwey Eichberg Spätburgunder GG
The red GG wines are fermented and aged in new barrique.
2006 Weingut Salwey Spätburgunder RS
Postings on the Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015) (Posted and Forthcoming)
4 Wine Tours by ombiasy coming up in 2015: Germany-East, Germany-South. Germany-Nord and Bordeaux
Fall Tours by ombiasy WineTours 2015 - A Very Special Treat: Experience Harvest Time !
Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Tour, Tasting (and Lunch) with Robert Schätzle, Owner and Winemaker, Weingut Schloss Neuweier in Baden– Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2015)
Wine Pairing Lunch at Röttele’s Restaurant (1 Star Michelin) at Schloss Neuweier, with Owner and Winemaker Robert Schätzle, Weingut Schloss Neuweier - German South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2015)
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars and Wine Taverns in Freiburg, Baden, Germany
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Salwey (VDP) in Baden with Benno Salwey
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Franz Keller (VDP) in Oberbergen, Kaiserstuhl, Baden
Wine Paring Lunch at Restaurant Schwarzer Adler (1 Star Michelin) in Oberbergen, Kaiserstuhl, Baden
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Bernhard Huber (VDP) in Baden, with Yquem Viehauser
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Dr. Heger (VDP) in Baden.
Tour and Tasting at Maison Léon Beyer in Eguisheim, Alsace, France, with Marc Beyer
Tour and Tasting at Domaine Weinbach in Kaysersberg, Alsace, with Catharine Faller
Wine Pairing Lunch at Wine Tavern Jülg, Weingut Jülg, in Schweigen, with Johannes Jülg
Tasting at Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz (VDP) in Siebeldingen, Pfalz
Schiller's Favorite (Wine-) Restaurants in Deidesheim in the Pfalz, Germany
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Müller-Catoir in Neustadt-Haardt, Pfalz
Tour and Tasting at Weingut A. Christmann (VDP) in Gimmeldingen, Pfalz, with Steffen Christmann
Tour and Tasting at Weingut von Winning (VDP) in Deidesheim, Pfalz
Tour and Tsting at Weingut Josef Biffar in Deidesheim, with Owner and Winemaker Fumiko Tokuoka
Wine Pairing Dinner at Restaurant FUMI at Weingut Josef Biffar in Deidesheim, with Owner and Winemaker Fumiko Tokuoka
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Markus Schneider in Ellerstadt, Pfalz, with Markus Schneider
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht in Kallstadt, Pfalz, with Franziska Schmitt
Tasting at Weingut Dreissigacker in Bechtheim, Rheinhessen, with Ute Dreissigacker
Tour and Wine Pairing Lunch at Weingut Eva Vollmer in Mainz-Ebersheim, Rheinhessen, with Eva Vollmer