VDP.ESTATE
FÜRST LÖWENSTEIN

“EVERY YEAR I FALL IN LOVE WITH A DIFFERENT WINE.”

DR. STEPHANIE PRINZESSIN ZU LÖWENSTEIN SPEAKS ABOUT HER WINES AND HER WINE ESTATE IN KLEINHEUBACH

Fürst Löwenstein

Schlosspark 3
63924 Kleinheubach

Phone+49(0)9371/9486600
Fax+49 (0)9371/9486633
eMailweingut@loewenstein.de
Office Hours
Montag bis Freitag 10:00 Uhr 17:30 Uhr Samstag: nach Absprache
Owner

Erbprinz zu Löwenstein

Cellarmaster

Bastian Hamdorf

Member Since

1919

Wine Area

20,20 acres

Grape Variety

10% Riesling, 65% Silvaner, 20% Spätburgunder, 5% Sauvignon Blanc

Geology

Bundsandstein und Muschelkalk

Memberships

VDP: What is so special about your winery?

Dr. Stephanie Prinzessin zu Löwenstein: Our winery has existed for 400 years. Before that there was Roman and later monastic viticulture here, so our completely modernised winery rests on old, venerable roots in every respect. Our wines are sourced from three wine-growing regions – the wonderful Baden, the mild, picturesque Rheingau and the multifaceted Franken – and vinified in the cellar cathedral of the former mews at Löwenstein Castle.

VDP: What is your winery philosophy?

Dr. Stephanie Prinzessin zu Löwenstein: We have the privilege of refining and sharing what nature gives us.

VDP: To which wine style do you aspire?

Dr. Stephanie Prinzessin zu Löwenstein: The style of our wines is determined by the vineyard and the vintage. Every year I am surprised by things and fall in love with a new wine – regardless of the grape variety!

VDP: Which of your wines would you recommend to someone who does not yet know your winery – as an introduction, so to speak?

Dr. Stephanie Prinzessin zu Löwenstein: The Fürstliche Kallmuth Wines. There are fantastic wines from all over the world, but the VDP.GROSSE LAGE® FÜRSTLICHER KALLMUTH® wines from terraces with extraordinary geological conditions are unique, like the enjoyment of Japanese fugu, but fortunately less dangerous. Here it is less about introduction, but rather about an experience that everyone should have, even if one would never drink wine again before and after. But beware; there’s no turning back. Those who know KALLMUTH always desire more. ;-)

“WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF REFINING AND SHARING WHAT NATURE GIVES US.”

VDP:Of which wine are you particularly proud?

Dr. Stephanie Prinzessin zu Löwenstein: Of our Sauvignon Blanc from KALLMUTH. In 2008, few Franken vintners dared to grow this grape variety, which my husband courageously planted on a particularly well protected terrace in the VDP.GROSSE LAGE® FÜRSTLICHER KALLMUTH®. Today it is a rarity that, to our joy, justifies itself each year.

VDP: Who is your winemaker?

Dr. Stephanie Prinzessin zu Löwenstein: Mr. Peter Arnold, a winemaker who has worked in South Africa and Spain. He is a wonderful, talented and internationally experienced winemaker. He dedicated his life to wine as a teenager in KALLMUTH before he went on to conquer the world after his viticulture and oenology studies in Geisenheim.

VDP: What are your next goals?

Dr. Stephanie Princess zu Löwenstein: Our high qualities are now where we envisioned them 10 years ago. Despite this, viticulture in Germany will not remain successful simply through superlative quality in the future. New challenges such as climate change and, above all, the development of the world market require the urgent solidarity of all German winegrowers.

VDP: How do you combine tradition and innovation?

Dr. Stephanie Princess zu Löwenstein: Innovation is traditionally part of our management. Today we are the first example winery for the climate adaptation manager of the Environmental Ministry. Among many other things, we produce low-alcohol wines and develop bee colonies and bee meadows. 
Our current mission is to make a tradition out of creating, refining and increasing our inherited natural resources sustainably through modern innovations. I and my co-workers adhere to the Christian understanding of values. In the course of the year, I consider Thanksgiving and the celebrations of gratefulness and praise for nature to be just as irreplaceable as the appreciation of our Saviour, the Mother of God and the saints – and not just out of tradition!