A great Wine Enthusiast article written by Hannah Selinger highlighting 2 of our estates.
Of Germany’s 13 regions for quality winemaking, the Mosel may be the most renowned. Known for ageworthy Riesling and terraced vineyards along the Mosel, Saar and Ruwer rivers, the Mosel has produced memorable, important wines for centuries.
Near Germany’s border with Belgium and Luxembourg, the Mosel is a cool-climate region. The higher-quality vineyards are located alongside the Mosel River and its tributaries, as temperatures can be warmer there. One defining characteristic of the region, besides its rivers, are its soils.
The Mosel is particularly known for its blue and volcanic red slate soils, which provides excellent drainage for grapevines. It’s well suited for a region that sees a fair amount of rainfall.
The slate soils provide excellent conditions, says Dr. Katharina Prüm, co-owner/winemaker for one of the Mosel’s most renowned producers, Weingut Joh. Jos. Prüm.
“The steep soils allow the sun to be caught ideally for the wines,” she says. “And the slate soils allow a very beautiful, salty minerality absorbed by the vines. Also, they can save the heat very well.”
That last part is particularly important for one of the world’s coolest growing climates.
