Weingut Franz Keller – distinctive wines from the Kaiserstuhl region
Weingut Franz Keller is a renowned family-owned winery from Oberbergen in the Kaiserstuhl, located in Germany's Baden wine region. The Keller family has deep roots in this area and focuses on wines that clearly express terroir, origin, and grape variety. Burgundian grape varieties such as Spätburgunder, Grauburgunder, Weissburgunder, and Chardonnay play a particularly important role.
The winery is known for its dry, fresh, and fruit-driven wines, but also for powerful and mineral-rich wines with great complexity. A key principle is that the wine should reflect the place it comes from.
The Keller family and the Kaiserstuhl
The Keller family has been connected with the Kaiserstuhl for generations. From Oberbergen, not only is wine produced; the family also has a long tradition in gastronomy and wine trade.
The family estate is linked to Schwarzer Adler, the Keller family's renowned restaurant. The combination of wine and gastronomy is therefore deeply embedded in the company.
This is also reflected in the wine style: Franz Keller explicitly crafts his wines as companions to good food.
Kaiserstuhl – a special wine region
The Kaiserstuhl is a volcanic massif in southwestern Germany and is one of the warmest wine regions in the country. The combination of abundant sunshine, relatively warm conditions, and unique soils makes the area excellently suited for viticulture.
The soil in many places consists of volcanic rock, often covered with loess. This gives the vineyards various microclimates and soil types.
Particularly the Burgundian grape varieties feel very much at home here.
Burgundian grape varieties
Franz Keller has a clear preference for grape varieties also known from Burgundy.
Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) forms an important part of the assortment. The warm Kaiserstuhl and the diverse soil types are particularly suitable for this grape.
In addition, Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) plays an important role, as do Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris) and Chardonnay.
This makes Franz Keller interesting for enthusiasts who appreciate the style of Burgundy but also want to discover a German interpretation of it.
Terroir and vineyards
Franz Keller places great importance on small, historic plots and steep vineyards. Franz Keller senior was already committed in the 1960s to preserving these special vineyards, precisely because he believed their unique character should be maintained.
This is reflected in the various Erste Lage wines such as:
- Oberbergener Bassgeige Spätburgunder
- Oberbergener Bassgeige Chardonnay
- Oberbergener Pulverbuck Weissburgunder
Sustainable viticulture
Franz Keller employs various methods to manage the vineyards as environmentally friendly as possible. This includes organic fertilization, mechanical soil cultivation, cover crops, and yield reduction. The winery also indicates that it is increasingly integrating biodynamic principles into its daily practices.
The winery itself is also uniquely designed. The building is partially dug into the hillside and utilizes gravity during winemaking. The roofs are planted with vegetation from the nearby Badberg nature reserve.
Fun fact
At Franz Keller, sustainability begins with the building itself. The winery is largely built into the hillside, utilizing natural temperature and gravity for wine production and storage. Even the roofs are planted with plants sourced from the nearby Badberg nature reserve.
Franz Keller and gastronomy
The Keller family has a long tradition in gastronomy. The family restaurant Schwarzer Adler in Oberbergen has held a Michelin star since 1969 and forms an important part of the company's identity. This also explains why Franz Keller explicitly positions his wines as wines for the table.
Discover the wines of Franz Keller
At Vechtstreek Wijnen, you will find various wines from Weingut Franz Keller from the Kaiserstuhl, including elegant wines of Spätburgunder, Grauburgunder, Weissburgunder, and Chardonnay.
Discover the different terroirs of this special German winery and taste for yourself how the combination of volcanic soils, loess, and Burgundian grape varieties results in distinctive wines.