Prinz Salm winery, Nahe

I want my children to be able to eat grapes straight from the vines! Prinz Michael zu Salm-Salm fulfilled this wish himself by managing Germany's oldest family-owned estate organically from 1988 onwards. One of the first winegrowers on the Nahe Wine Route to do so, he converted the 12.5 hectares of vines to organic cultivation. Both his sons, Constantin and Felix, were thus able to grow into a family tradition spanning over 800 years from early childhood.

Today, 32 generations later, the two princes run Germany’s oldest family-owned winery. Four generations now live under the historic roof of Schloss Wallhausen. ‘Our parents showed us by example that, although a family is founded on and shaped by tradition, every generation brings changes,’ explain the princes zu Salm-Salm. Consideration, diplomacy and clear boundaries are therefore as much a part of a true zu Salm-Salm’s education as all the knowledge about tradition and wine. We found the family friendly, open and full of humour on our visit to Schloss Wallhausen. It is hardly surprising that the estate is also highly regarded for training winegrowers. Classical methods and modern cellar technology are used in winemaking. The finishing touch comes from the old vaulted cellar built from green slate, whose consistently cool temperature ensures calm fermentation and undisturbed ageing.