Important locations for Mosel wine
Since the different divisions can be a bit confusing for outsiders, let's now take a quick look at the five wine-growing regions with their locations and styles separately.
Mittelmosel
With a good 5,500 hectares of vineyards, the Middle Mosel forms the heart of the growing region. The vines grow on the steep slopes on blue, grey and red slate and in the valleys on terrace sediments made of gravel, sand and clay that have been deposited by the Mosel over the course of thousands of years. A geological peculiarity is the soil of the Rotliegend near Ürzig, where the Mosel meets the red volcanic rock of the Eifel. The most famous individual sites in the Middle Mosel include the Alte Badstube am Doctorberg or the Bernkasteler Doctor, the Brauneberger Juffer and the Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr, the Erdener Prälat, the Zeltinger and the Wehlener Sonnenuhr as well as the Piesporter Goldtröpfchen. The wines of the Middle Mosel are usually fruitier and stronger than those from the Saar or Ruwer.
Ruwer
To the east of Trier is the Ruwer Valley region, which covers just 177 hectares of vineyards - with vineyards on the southern slopes between Sommeraus and the Trier district of Ruwer. The Ruwer has the highest Riesling share of the entire wine-growing region at almost 88%. In addition, mainly Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir are grown on the Ruwer. The steep-slope Rieslings of the Ruwer are known for their high minerality and are considered particularly tender and delicate. Important individual sites for Mosel wines include: Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg, Mertesdorfer Bruderberg (including Herrenberg and Abtsberg), Kaseler Kehrnagel and Dominikanerberg, Lorenzhöfer Felslay, Waldracher Jesuitengarten and Laurentiusberg, Morscheider Heiigenhäuschen and the Sommerauer Schlossberg.
Saar
Dark Devonian slate characterizes the winegrowing between Serrig and Konz on the Saar. The vineyards are often located on the south-facing slopes of side valleys. 793 hectares are planted with vines - 83% of them with Riesling. The wines are considered to be particularly storable and are characterized by their finesse and minerality. The Wiltinger Scharzhofberg is one of the most famous Riesling sites in the world and is located on the Saar. The wines are small and large legends that regularly receive high to very high bids at auctions. In addition to the Scharzhofberg, the Mosel wines from the individual sites Ayler Kupp, Ockfener Bockstein and the Kanzemer Altenberg also often cause a sensation.
Südliche Weinmosel
In the border triangle of Germany, France and Luxembourg, the vines grow on dolomite rock, which was formed from limestone deposits in a primordial ocean. Here the Moselle valley is somewhat wider and the slopes not quite as steep. Surprisingly, Riesling is not the star here. It is Elbling. The white grape variety thrives on 400 hectares of the southern Moselle. But the Burgundy varieties also feel at home on the shell limestone soils that are also found. They make up 30% of the 870 hectares of vineyards. The Nitteler Fels is probably the best-known location for Moselle wines.
Terrassenmosel
Dry stone walls characterize the appearance of the steep slopes from Zell onwards. Here the Moselle valley becomes narrower and narrower, which means that the dry stone walls provide additional security for the slopes. Welcome to the Terrace Moselle! The soil here is mainly characterized by clay slate. But also by quartzitic sandstone. The Bremmer Calmont is the steepest vineyard in Europe on the Terrace Moselle. Other well-known slopes include the Neefer Frauenberg and the Winninger Uhlen Roth Lay. The Riesling wines produced on the Terrace Moselle are generally a little more lush than those from the rest of the Moselle. The wines have a lot of body and fruit.