Mosel (former Mosel-Saar-Ruwer)

The smallest sub-region of this growing region is located on the banks of the Ruwer River, stretching from the town of Ruwer to Morscheid. This northerly section of the valley is protected from all sides by wooded areas and hills, providing excellent microclimatic conditions on the few steep slopes available. The only problem encountered by producers in this area is drought. Lying in the leeward shadow of the Grüneberg mountain, this area receives significantly less rainfall than the city of Trier only a few kilometres distant. Careful and hard work in the vineyards is required to overcome this problem, and to provide an adequate supply of water on the steep slopes.
The best wines of the Ruwer combine the raciness of the Saar with intense mineral tones and strong herbal aromas. The best wines are all produced in one of the 8 top-class vineyard sites of the area, of which 6 are respectively owned by a single owner (monopole vineyards) – von Schubert (Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg, Herrenberg and Brudersberg), Kartäuserhof (Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg) and Karlsmühle (Laurenzhöfer Mäuerchen and Felslay). The other two leading vineyard sites, Kaseler Nies'chen and Kehrnagel, are split among several owners. Apart from the Karlsmühle estate, the estates of Erben von Beulewitz and especially the Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt produce outstanding Rieslings from these sites.

(translation by Peter Gebler)