Mosel river wine (277)

Mosel Wine - World-renowned and Appreciated

On the steep slopes above the Mosel, Saar, and Ruwer rivers, predominantly white grapes are cultivated, with Riesling taking the lion's share. From this grape, winemakers at the Mosel produce light, dry, but also noble sweet wines, which have established the global reputation of this wine-growing region and sometimes fetch very high prices at auctions for older vintages.

Wine Came to the Mosel with the Romans

It is likely that the Celts already cultivated vines at the Mosel and produced wine from them. However, on a larger scale and professionally, Mosel white wine and Mosel red wine were produced by the ancient Romans, starting around the 1st century BC. Around 15 BC, they founded the urban settlement of Augusta Treverorum, today’s Trier. It is known that the Romans, wherever they established their military camps and colonies, also began winegrowing. Numerous archaeological finds, such as the remains of wine presses in the towns of Erden and Piesport or the wine ship in Neumagen, which is considered the oldest German wine town, bear witness to the Romans' many activities in producing wine for the population and their soldiers.

The Different Areas and Locations of Mosel Wineries

Within the cultivation area, the following six regions are distinguished:

• Burg Cochem (also known as Terrassenmosel, as cultivation is primarily possible only on terraces)
• Bernkastel (Middle Mosel, the heart of the region with numerous famous sites)
• Obermosel (begins south of Trier)
• Moseltor
• Saar
• Ruwer (the smallest area)

These six regions are further divided into 19 large and 524 individual locations. There, over 5,200 winemakers in 125 wine towns cultivate about 8,770 ha of vineyard area and produce approximately 670,000 hl of white and red wines.

Soils and Climatic Conditions in the Mosel Valley

In the areas of Obermosel and Moseltor, the soils are characterized by shell limestone and Keuper. The primarily cultivated grape varieties here are Elbling, Pinot Blanc, and Auxerrois. In the other areas, Untermosel and Middle Mosel as well as Saar and Ruwer, slate soils prevail, an ideal foundation especially for Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Blanc, and Elbling.

Slate has the property of storing solar heat during the day and releasing it at night, which favors uniform temperature conditions. Additionally, the steep slopes and winding valleys, combined with the soils, provide ideal warming as well as an optimal ratio of rainfall. The sheltered valleys are among the warmest climatic zones in Germany.

The roots of the vines grow several meters deep into the ground and supply the vines with water and minerals in this way. This results in fruity, fine wines with great depth, but without excessively high alcohol content, which can be enjoyed relatively carefree. The noble sweet drops from the Mosel are also famous and sought after, some of which trade at very high prices.

The Grape Varieties

White grape varieties dominate at the Mosel with 90.6% compared to red varieties at 9.4% (as of 2019). The most important are:

• Riesling 62.2%
• Müller-Thurgau (Rivaner) 10.2%
• Elbling 5.3%
• Pinot Blanc 4.1%
• Pinot Noir 4.6%

The extreme difference between the cultivated amounts of white and red grapes did not always exist. The red Burgundy was quite widespread in the vineyards until the end of the 19th century. However, winemakers were able to achieve significantly better prices for white wines in international markets, prompting them to shift their production. Gradually, Riesling displaced the red grapes until their cultivation was even prohibited in the 1930s. This ban remained in effect until the end of the 1980s.

Today, Spätburgunder or Pinot Noir has reclaimed the fourth place among the grape varieties in the Mosel with around 400 ha of cultivated area, followed by Dornfelder with 296 ha. After the lifting of further restrictions, some winemakers have begun experimenting with other red grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Regent, achieving quite interesting results.

Buy Mosel Wine Online at VINELLO

Enjoy top wines from the Mosel at affordable prices from our online shop. At VINELLO, you will find a representative selection of winemakers and wineries in the Mosel, particularly Rieslings with their unique character that defines the reputation of this German wine-growing region. With us, you shop securely and can look forward to a fast delivery of your order. Moreover, we offer you a variety of payment options from which you can choose your preferred method.

Another advantage at VINELLO: Our sommeliers are available by phone for detailed consultations to introduce you to the world of Mosel wines. This makes it easier and faster for you to find your favorites, whether for a special occasion, an evening with friends, or for your own private enjoyment.