Mosel (former Mosel-Saar-Ruwer)

The heart of the Mosel is the section between Schweich and Zell. Here, top-class vineyard sites are strung out next to each other like so many pearls on a necklace. Since the Eighties are large community of quality-conscious producers has ensured that the reputation of this sub-region is again shining as brightly as it did in the nineteenth century. The success achieved in this region was the impetus that helped to spread the commitment to high quality across the other German wine-growing areas.
Without exception, the best sites in this area are to be found on very steep slopes facing south-west to south-east. The many meandering bends and loops of the Mosel have created a large number of such slopes, blessed with an excellent microclimate. To date, only a few of these sites have become really famous, including particularly the Bernkasteler Doctor, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Ürziger Würzgarten, Piesporter Goldtröpfchen, Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr and Erdener Prälat, but there is at least another dozen very good sites that are producing absolutely first-class wine, year after year. The original vineyard classification maps of the Mosel, Saar and Ruwer regions, dated 1868 and 1897, have eve been revitalised in the Nineties. These maps show vineyards classified into first, second and third class quality, depending on the amount of property tax that was levied at the time of the maps being drawn up. These maps indicate a number of additional sites with the potential to produce top-quality wines, but which are currently not being worked to their full potential.
The leading producers of the Mittelmosel are: the "old masters" Wilhelm Haag (Fritz Haag estate) in Brauneberg and Johann Josef Prüm in Wehlen, as well as Reinhold Haart in Piesport, Willi Schaefer in Graach, Ernst Loosen in Bernkastel, Markus Molitor in Zeltingen, Raimund Prüm (S.A. Prüm estate) in Wehlen and the Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt estate located in Morscheid on the Ruwer. In addition, some 20 to 30 other estates regularly produce very good to excellent wines – whereas some of these are not as consistent as the top producers, they can achieve remarkable results in good vintages.

(translation by Peter Gebler)