Castel Winery, Ethiopia
Just 165 kilometers from Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, lies the town of Ziway. Near the shores of Lake Ziway, the European Castel Group invested its expertise and resources in establishing an impressive winery, remarkable both in scale and quality. The estate is surrounded by 1,250 hectares (12,500 dunams) of vineyards, situated at an altitude of 1,643 meters above sea level.
Approximately 750 employees produce around 1.2 million bottles annually, crafting white, rosé, and red wines according to the finest French winemaking traditions. It is, in many ways, a reflection of Bordeaux transplanted into East Africa.
The founders, the Castel family from France, brought decades of viticultural expertise to Ethiopia, establishing the winery in the country’s famous Rift Valley—a vast geological depression stretching across eastern Africa and home to numerous lakes. The region is characterized by complex geological formations and dramatic climatic variations. One thing, however, is unmistakable: exceptional grapes thrive here, producing distinctive, high-quality wines.
The winery’s most striking feature is its Tasting House, built from a combination of local stone, mud, and elongated leaves. The structure reflects the authenticity and spirit of the region while providing visitors with the opportunity to sample the winery’s diverse portfolio. One of its standout wines is featured below.
A dry red wine aged for 12 months, Rift Valley Cuvée Prestige Cabernet Sauvignon–Merlot displays a bright appearance and a medium-bodied structure. It offers generous fruit aromas accompanied by notes of warm earth and mineral character. On the palate, flavors of cherries and soft strawberries are complemented by crushed nuts and spicy hints of red pepper.
Although it is a red wine, it is best enjoyed slightly cooler than usual, at a serving temperature of 10–12°C, which enhances its freshness and highlights its vibrant fruit character.
