Discover Germany | Special Theme | Wine World Switzerland
Main Photo: Schloss Salenegg in autumn during harvest time. Below Left: 21-metre-long, old wine press from 1652 which was active until 1926. Below Middle: A typical Schloss Salenegg wine label which was designed by Hans Luzius von Gugelberg 75 years ago. Below Right: Delikat Vinegar: an extraordinary present. Bottom Right: Schloss Salenegg’s traditional Pinot Noir ripens in these tuns which hold up to 4,500 litres.
Passing on the fire Gustav Mahler supposedly once said: “Tradition means passing on the fire, not worshipping the ashes.” This is exactly what winery Schloss Salenegg and the Hotel Schweizerhof have been successfully doing for generations. TEXT: NANE STEINHOFF I PHOTOS: SCHLOSS SALENEGG, SCHWEIZERHOF
Viticulture tradition and Schloss Salenegg have always gone hand in hand. Since 1068, exceptional wines have been cultivated and pressed here in Europe’s oldest winery. But even earlier, in 950, the Pfaefers monastery laid the foundations for today’s castle complex with its vineyard. Then the Gugelberg family came into play. Since 1654, they assure the highest quality and originality and have grown Pinot Noir for over 200 years. Today, Helene von Gugelberg is leading Schloss Salenegg and notes: “I’m so proud of our longstanding tradition.” 28 | Issue 38 | May 2016
Schloss Salenegg’s core competence lies in growing Pinot Noir. The estate’s calcareous slate soils cater for the exceptional minerality of Schloss Salenegg’s grand Pinot Noirs. The wines mature in large oak barrels with a capacity of between 1,890 and 4,370 litres where they get the distinctive and smooth Schloss Salenegg taste, their ruby red colour and their delicate, smoothly spicy bouquet. All in all, the wines perfectly reflect Schloss Salenegg’s exceptional terroir. Helene von Gugelberg says: “Only that which the grape gets from the vine can be found in
our wines. Thus, vines that are perfectly compatible with the terroir are vital. Our centuries-old expertise is giving us a significant advantage here.” Even though Pinot Noir is Schloss Salenegg’s main competence, the winery has far more to offer. Whether other wines, vinegar, verjus, dessert wine or grape seed oil, all of Schloss Salenegg’s exceptional products are singular in Grisons and in Switzerland. Due to the fact that the old castle walls and the beautiful castle grounds are filled with life and radiate an exceptional ambiance, Schloss Salenegg