Take a peek at some of the oldest wineries around the world. These working relics show how wine has been with us and will continue to be with us for the next millennia.
1. Château de Goulaine
circa 1000
Château de Goulaine in France was owned by the Goulaine family except for a stint from 1788 to 1858 when it changed hands to a Dutch banker during the French Revolution. One of the last castles in the Loire to still make wine, Goulaine produces some Loire Valley white wines including Muscadet and Folle Blanche. It’s been said that the previous chef of Château de Goulaine, Mrs. Clémence Lefeuvre, invented Beurre Blanc sauce.
Today you can stay the night at Château de Goulaine or rent it for a wedding.
Aerial view of the Château de Goulaine winery in France.
2. Barone Ricasoli
Established 1141
This castle was owned by a family in Tuscany when Florence and Siena were still city-states. The Ricasoli survived Italy’s internal struggles in the mid-1200’s, the Black Death in the mid 1300’s, the rise of the Medicis until the 1700’s and World War II. Today you can find their most prestigious wine, “Castello di Brolio”, for about $70.
View of Barone Ricasoli winery in Tuscany, Italy.
3. Schloss Johanisberg
circa 1100
There are records of an order for 6 000 liters of wine during Charlemagne’s rule in the late 700s. Schloss Johannisberg in Germany was destroyed once by marauding peasants in the German Peasant’s War in 1525. It is home to the oldest Riesling vineyards in the world and also lays claim to making the first late-harvest wines in 1775. Before then grapes with noble rot were not considered suitable for winemaking.
Aerial view of Schloss Johannisberg in Rheingau, Germany, surrounded by Riesling vineyards.
Click HERE to see the full list.