The winery is located in the city of Würzburg (Maindreieick area) in the German wine-growing region of Franconia. The traditional Staatlicher Hofkeller was founded in 1128, making it one of the oldest wineries in Germany and Europe. It has been owned by the ruling power without interruption since the 12th century. These were the Bishops of Würzburg, who were also Dukes of Franconia, from 1814 the Bavarian royal family under the name Königlich Bayerischer Hofkeller (with an interlude by Grand Duke Ferdinand of Tuscany from 1806 to 1814) and finally from 1918 the Free State of Bavaria under the name Staatlicher Hofkeller Würzburg.
Wine-growing domain
The wine-growing estate was run as a training and model estate (see also under wine-growing domain). The baroque-style residence, built between 1720 and 1744, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. The treasury is located in the cellar vaults. The oldest wine stored in this wine library is a vintage from 1874, and Bocksbeutel rarities from all sites, grape varieties and vintages have been stored there since 1950. Deep inside are the very extensive and labyrinthine wine cellars. Klaus Kuhn and Friederike Voigtländer are responsible for the cellar.
Viticulture
The vineyards cover 120 hectares of vines in the following municipalities and individual vineyards: Abtswind with Altenberg; Dorfprozelten with Predigtstuhl; Großheubach with Bischofsberg; Handthal with Stollberg; Hörstein with Abtsberg; Iphofen with Julius-Echter-Berg; Marktheidenfeld with Kreuzberg; Randersacker with Lämmerberg, Marsberg, Pfülben and Sonnenstuhl; Thüngersheim with Scharlachberg; and Würzburg with Innere Leiste, Schlossberg and Stein.
They are planted with the white wine varieties Riesling, Müller-Thurgau,Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Kerner, Rieslaner (crossed here in 1921), Scheurebe, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc and Bacchus, as well as the red wine varieties Pinot Noir, Frühburgunder, Dornfelder, Domina, Blauer Portugieser and St. Laurent. Wines from VDP-classified vineyards are marketed as Grosses Gewächs. Many fine brandies (brandy, marc brandy, fruit brandies such as Williams pear, sloe, quince, plum) and liqueurs are also produced. The winery is a member of the VDP.
Image: by User:Mattes - Own work, Public domain, Link
