Location and landscape
Teufelskeller is a single vineyard in Randersacker in the Franconian winegrowing region Franken. The site extends between the vineyard areas Hohbug and Pfülben along the Main valley. It is located on a steep scarp slope, or in a cut into the terrain, with a south to south-south-west aspect, at around 180 to 270 metres above sea level and with slope gradients of roughly 40 to 90 percent.
Soil and area
Teufelskeller is on Upper to Middle Muschelkalk with iron deposits. In addition, it is described as having stony, karst-like weathering soils and inclusions of iron oxides in the bedrock. The classified area comprises 31 hectares. The present-day site includes the former vineyard areas Hohbug and Teufelskeller; in 1975 a land consolidation was carried out.
Grape varieties and wines
The classified grape varieties listed are Silvaner and Riesling. Historically, Traminer and Bukettrebe are also documented at Teufelskeller. Dry wines are available from Silvaner, Riesling and Chardonnay. Teufelskeller is classified as VDP.ERSTE LAGE®.
Name and history
Historic names for the wine site are Tiufelskeller (from 1284), Tufelskeller (from 1350) and Deuffelßkeller (around 1580). The origin of the name is linked to the Würzburg patrician family Tuefel or Teufel, and to “Kehle”, an older term for a cut into the terrain. Balthasar Neumann owned a vineyard in the area of Teufelskeller and had a wall built there around 1745 to protect it from flooding; according to the local account, in return he received a ten-year exemption from the tithe.
