Throughout 150 miles of serpentine twists, the Mosel River fashioned the valley that grew to become the oldest wine area in Germany. “The area’s lengthy historical past goes again to Roman instances, however the varied monks and monasteries of the Roman Catholic church performed, as in Burgundy, a key position within the viticulture of the Mosel,” explains Lars Carlberg, writer of Mosel Wine, a translation of the 1897 Moselwein by Karl Heinrich Koch. For hundreds of years, the church was among the many largest landowners within the area. Right this moment, greater than 8,500 hectares of planted vineyards are cultivated by practically 5,000 wineries, with lots of the smaller winemakers working with 5 hectares or much less.
Divided into six acknowledged areas, the area stretches from the French border to the Mosel River’s confluence with the Rhine, together with offshoots alongside the Saar and Ruwer rivers. However the space’s most recognizable trait is the dramatic slopes of the valley partitions, the place half of the area’s vineyards are planted on terraced websites with a slope of greater than 30 levels. Whereas such steep viticulture requires cultivation nearly solely by hand, it additionally contributes to the situations that make the area’s wines so notable.
Mosel is Germany’s fifth-largest wine-growing area, however its outsized repute is acknowledged the world over, notably for its Riesling. “It’s a mix of the slate soils and funky local weather,” says Carlberg, who additionally works within the vineyards and cellar for Hofgut Falkenstein, which makes conventional, dry Rieslings. “Mosel wine might be zippy, mild, and refreshing, and a typical Mosel Riesling is floral, natural, salty, and tangy. It ought to have a inexperienced tint and a light-weight physique.” Whereas local weather change is warming wine areas globally, Mosel included, the area’s northerly latitude continues to provide crisp, cool-climate wines. “With rising alcohol ranges in varied wine areas because of international warming, many wine drinkers are in search of wines with each low alcohol and good acidity,” notes Carlberg. “What higher place than the Mosel?”
4 to Strive
Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Kabinett
“Willi Schaefer is a small, family-owned property in Graach, simply down river from Bernkastel-Kues,” says Carlberg. “The steep Domprobst, which rises above the village, is arguably their prime website. They’re finest recognized for his or her residually candy Rieslings, together with Kabinett wines [the lightest style of Riesling], and that is one in all my favorites.” $49.99, leonandsonwine.com
Weiser-Künstler Enkircher Ellergrub Spätlese
“Weiser-Künstler is a husband-and-wife duo primarily based in Traben-Trarbach,” Carlberg says. “Alexandra Künstler and Konstantin Weiser farm biodynamically and excel in varied types of Mosel Riesling, however are notably adept at making Kabinett and Spätlese [a sweeter, late-harvest style] from their selection parcel of previous vines on the steep, terraced Ellergrub winery in Enkirch.” $44.99, nyc.flatiron-wines.com
Hofgut Falkenstein Niedermenniger Herrenberg Kabinett Trocken
“Erich and Johannes Weber proceed to make shiny, bone-dry Saar Rieslings, even when their highest-rated wines are typically extra the off-dry ones,” Carlberg notes. “However die-hard Falkenstein followers additionally love their drywines [trocken]. The Webers are—at the start—laborious employees and actual farmers but additionally expert at what they do. Their hands-off method within the cellar is a misplaced artwork.” $33.98, vintagewinemerchants.com
Julien Renard Riesling
“Julien Renard is a comparatively new winegrower to the Decrease Mosel. After apprenticing at Heymann-Löwenstein and Knebel in Winningen, he finally began his personal vineyard in the identical space,” says Carlberg. “He makes low-intervention, dry wines with a protracted élevage in cask.” $45, leonandsonwine.com
