The Mosel River is the sinuous spine of the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer region, changing direction so often as it flows northeast toward the Rhine that it meanders nearly 250 km/150 miles, to cover about half that distance as the crow flies. Together with its two small tributaries, the Saar and the Ruwer, the Mosel composes one geographical entity. Although each river's vineyard area produces a wine with its own distinctive personality, the three share a family resemblance: a fragrance reminiscent of spring blossoms, a pale colour, light body and a refreshing, fruity acidity. To add to their charm, they often have the slightest hint of effervescence. Most display their finest charms in youth; the late- and selectively-harvested wines merit aging. Along the serpentine route of the Mosel , the riverbanks rise so sharply that the vineyards carpeting these slopes are among the steepest in the world, with some planted at an astounding 70-degree gradient. On these precipitous inclines, nearly all labour must be done by hand. That includes tying each vine to its own eight-foot wooden stake, and carrying up the slate soil that has washed down with the winter rains.

Originally the Treveres, a Celtic Teutonic mixed race, were at home on the Mosel river. For a change they learned wine-growing not from the Romans, but from the Greek who came to them via Marseilles . Since the 2nd century wine is cultivated on the Mosel . In this cultivation area is Trier , the oldest German town which was already described as second Rome . Until the Thirty Years' War mainly Elblinger and a few red variants were cultivated. Not until the 17th century the Riesling is increasingly cultivated who ripens here to all of his greatness and elegance.

In 2001 the region of Mosel-Saar-Ruwer which has 9.828 ha under vine produced 909.633 hectolitres of grape must which gives a yield of 89,6 hectolitres per hectares this was split into 0,3% table wine 45,8% QbA wine and 53,6 QmP wines.

Geographical location:

The Mosel Valley , a gorge the river carved between the Hunsrück and Eifel hills and the valleys of its tributaries, the Saar and Ruwer rivers.

Major town(s): Koblenz (confluence of the Mosel and Rhine rivers), Cochem, Zell, Bernkastel, Piesport, Trier

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Climate:

Optimal warmth and precipitation in the steep sites and valleys.

Due to the northern location the climate is relatively cool, but without strong fluctuations because the influences of the Atlantic show to advantage through the western location. This causes a high content of fruit acids in the wine which are however eased through high contents of potassium from the soil.

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Soil types:

Clayish slate and greywacke in the lower Mosel Valley (northern section); Devonian slate in the steep sites and sandy, gravelly soil in the flatlands of the middle Mosel Valley; primarily shell-limestone (chalky soils) in the upper Mosel Valley (southern section, parallel with the border of Luxembourg). Occasionally loess soils in the valley locations on which especially Müller-Thurgau develops very well.

The dark, multi-coloured slate in
Bernkastel and Graach produces wines
with pronounced flavours of citrus and stone fruits, and a firm mineral structure.

The Devonian slate of the Mosel valley comes in a range
of colours because of differing mineral content. These
differences, in conjunction with the various vineyard climates
and soil compositions, give distinctive flavours to the wines.

The complex, well-weathered red slate of Erdener Prälat produces majestic, multi faceted wines with stunning depth and concentration.

The weathered red volcanic and slate soil of Ürziger Würzgarten makes it unique on the Mosel. High iron content in the soil here gives the vineyard its vivid colour.

There is virtually no topsoil in Wehlen, only broken and weathered shards of the purest blue slate in the Mosel valley. This purity is reflected in the wines.

(Slate Pictures and text thanks to Dr Loosen am de Mosel)

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Vineyard area

	Upper Mosel and Moseltor, from the Saar mouth upstream via Mesenich, Nittel and Wincheringen up to Perl. Here the Elbling grape is increasingly cultivated which grew here already at the times of the Romans. Light and acid-rich white wines are also used to produce sparkling wine.
	Upper Mosel and Moseltor, from the Saar mouth upstream via Mesenich, Nittel and Wincheringen up to Perl. Here the Elbling grape is increasingly cultivated which grew here already at the times of the Romans. Light and acid-rich white wines are also used to produce sparkling wine.
	Bernkastel (Middle Mosel ), between Briedel and Longuich. The vine roots find despite the gravel-like composition of the soil sufficient nutrients and water in order to produce excellent Riesling wines.
	Zell ( Lower Mosel ), from Koblenz to Zell. In this area grow lighter and milder wines on gray wacke slate which show more similarity with the Rhine Rieslings.

9.828 Ha· 6 Bereich · 20 collective vineyard sites · 523 individual sites

(see below)

(white 94.2% · red 5.8%)

Riesling 5.748 ha which is 55,3 % of total area

Müller-Thurgau 1.894 ha which is 18,2 % of total area

Elbling 870 ha which is 8,4 % of total area an ancient variety cultivated by the Romans and because of its pronounced acidity, often used as a base wine for Sekt, Germany's sparkling wine as well as Kerner, Bacchus and Spätburgunder.

Kerner 684 ha which is 6,6 % of total area

Specified region Mosel-Saar-Ruwer

(a) General:

Mosel

Moseltaler

Ruwer

Saar

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Bereich Bernkastel

GROSSLAGE Vom heissen Stein

Briedel (village)

Weisserberg

Schäferlay

Herzchen

Nonnengarten

Schelm

Pünderich (village)

Goldlay

Rosenberg

Nonnengarten

Marienberg

Reil (village)

Goldlay

Falklay

Moulay-Hofberg

Sorentberg

GROSSLAGE Schwarzlay

Burg(village)

Wendelstück

Hahnenschrittchen

Thomasberg

Falklay

Schloßberg

Enkirch (village)

Edelberg

Monteneubel

Steffensberg

Weinkammer

Herrenberg

Zeppwingert

Batterieberg

Ellergrub

Starkenburg (village)

Rosengarten

Traben-Trarbach

Burgberg

Schloßberg

Ungsberg

Hühnerberg

Kreuzberg

Taubenhaus

Gaispfad

Zollturm

Königsberg

Kräuterhaus

Würzgarten

Wolf

Schatzgarten

Sonnenlay

Klosterberg

Goldgrube

Auf de Heide

Kinheim (village)

Rosenberg

Hubertuslay

Lösnich (village)

Fösterlay

Burgberg

Erden (village)

Bußlay

Herrenberg

Prälat (AIR-din-er PRAY-laht)

Ürzig (village)

Würzgarten (ERTS-ih-ger VERTS-gar-ten)

Goldwingert

Bausendorf (village)

Herzlay

Hubertuslay

Flussbach (village)

Reichelberg

Wittlich (village)

Kupp

Lay

Bottchen

Felsentreppchen

Rosenberg

Portnersberg

Klosterberg

Hupperath (village)

Klosterweg

Dries (village)

Johannisberg

Platen (village)

Klosterberg

Rotlay

GROSSLAGE Badstube

Bernkastel-Kues Orsteil Bernkastel (village)

Lay (pronounced LIE — an old dialect word for “slate”)

Matheisbildchen

Bratenhöfchen

Graben

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GROSSLAGE Beerenlay

Lieser (village)

Süßenberg

Niederberg-helden

Rosenlay

GROSSLAGE Nacktarsch

Kröv (village) ... click here for a picture

Burglay

Herrenberg

Steffensberg

Letterlay

Kirschlay

Paradies

GROSSLAGE Probstberg

Mehring(village)

Riol(village)

Römerberg

Fell(village)

Maximer burgberg

Longuich (village)

Hirschlay

Maximer Herrenberg

Herrenberg

Schweich (village)

Herrenberg

Annaberg

Burgmauer

Kenn (village)

Held

Maximer Hofgarten

GROSSLAGE Münzlay

Zeltingen-rachtig

Deutschherrenberg

Himmelreich 110 ha ( weathered slate ,quite steep behind the village) click for a picture

Schloßberg 50 ha ( heavy blue devonian slate over loam , moderatly steep and above sonnenuhr) click for a picture

Sonnenuhr 40 ha (lower than above and therefore benefits from the rivers effects) click for a picture

Wehlen

Sonnenuhr (VAY-len-er ZON-en-ooer)

Hofberg

Abtei

Klosterhofgut

Klosterberg

Nonnenberg

Graach (village)

Domprobst......... click for a picture

Himmelreich click here for picture

Abstberg

Josephshöfer

GROSSLAGE Kurfürstlay

Bernkastel-Kues

Johannisbrünnchen

Treppchen .....click here for a picture

stephanus-Rosengartchen

Bernkastel-Kues

Rosenberg

Kardinalsberg

Weißenstein

Andel (village)

Orsteil von Bernkastel-Kues

Schloßberg

Lieser (village)

Schloßberg

Mühlheim (village)

Elisenberg

Sonnenlay

Helenenkloster

Amtgarten

Veldenz (village)

Elisenberg

Kirschberg

Mühlberg

Grafschafter Sonnenberg

Carlsberg

Maring-noviand (village)

Honigberg

Klosterberg

Römerpfad

Kirschberg

Sonnenuhr

Burgen (village)

Römerberg

Kirschberg

Hasenlaufer

Brauneburg (village)

Mandelgraben

Klostergarten

Juffer

Juffer Sonnenuhr

Kamer

Hasenläufer

Osaan-Monzal (village)

Paulinslay

Kätzchen

Kirschlay

Rosenberg

Kesten (village)

Paulinhofberger

Herrenberg

Paulinsberg

Wintrich (village)

Stefanslay

Großer Herrgott

Sonnseite

Ohligsberg

Geierslay

GROSSLAGE Michelsberg

Minheim (village)

Burglay

Kapellchen

Doctor ...click here for a picture

Günterslay

Piesport (village)

Domprobst......... click for a picture

Falkenberg

Himmelreich ......click here for a picture

Günterslay

Domherr

Gärtchen

Kreuzwingert

Schubertslay

Schloßberg ....click here for a picture

Sonnenuhr ....click here for a picture

Neumagen-Dhron

Goldtröpfchen

Grafenberg

Hofberger

Roterd

Grosser Hengelberg

Häschen

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Neumagen-Dhron

Nusswingert

Engelgrube

Domprobst......... click for a picture

Rosengärtchen

Sonnenuhr

Himmelreich ........ click for a picture

Schloßberg.....click here for a picture

Rosenburg .....click here for a picture

Treppchen ......click for a picture

Felsenkopf

Leiterchen

Rivernich (village)

Niederberg

Geisberg

Rosenburg

Brauneburg

Hetzerath (village)

Brauneburg

Sehlem (village)

Rotlay

GROSSLAGE Sankt Michael

Leiwen (village)

Klostergarten

Laurentiuslay

Köwerich (village)

Laurentiuslay

Held

Goldtröpfchen ........ click for a picture

Grafenburg ..........click for a picture

Bruderschaft

Königsberg

Bekond (village)

Sclossberg

Brauneberg

Thörnich (village)

Enggass

Ritsch

Schiesslay

Ensch (village)

Mühlenberg

St Martin

Sonnenlay

Hofberger ......click for a picture

Würzgarten

Maximiner Klosterlay

Schleich (village)

Sonnenberg

Klosterberg

Laudamusberg ...click here for a picture

Trittenhiem (village)

Held

Südlay

Mehring (village)

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Goldkupp

Zellerberg

Lörsch (village)

Orsteil von mehring Zellerberg

Longen (village)

Zellerberg

Bereich Moseltor

GROSSLAGE Bübinger

Nennig (village)

Schlossberg

Römerberg

Sehndorf (village)

Klosterberg

Marienberg

Perl (village)

Quirinusberg

Hasenberg

Bereich Obermosel

GROSSLAGE Köningsberg

Igel (village)

Dullgärten

Liersberg (village)

Pilgerberg

Langsur (village)

Brüderberg

Mesenich (village)

Heid

GROSSLAGE Gipfel

Wasserliesch (village)

Reinig auf de Berg

Albactaler

Oberbillig (village)

Hirtengarten

Römerberg

Fellerich (village)

Schleidberg

Temmels (village)

St Georgehof

Münsterstatt

Wellen (village)

Altenberg

Onsdorf (village)

Hubertusberg

Nittel (village)

Hubertusberg

Leiferchen

Blumchen

Rochusfels

Köllig (village)

Rochusfels

Rehlingen (village)

Kappellenberg

Wincheringen (village)

Fuchsloch

Wehr (village)

Rosenberg

Helfant und Esingen (village)

Kappellenberg

Palzem (village)

Karlsfelsen

Lay

Kreuzweiler (village)

Schloß Thorner Kupp

Bereich Zell

GROSSLAGE Weinhex

Güls (village)

Maienberg

Bienengarten

Königsfeld

Im Röttgen

Moselweiss (village)

Hamm

Lay (village)

Hamm

Hubertusborn

Winningen (village)

Im Röttgen

Brüchstück

Domgarten

Hamm

Uhlem

Kobern-gondorf (village)

Uhlen

Fahrberg

Weißssenberg

Schloßberg

Gans

Fuchshöle

Kehrberg

Dieblich (village)

Heilgraben

Niederfell (village)

Fächern

Kahlley

Goldlay

Lehmen (village)

Lay

Klosterberg

Wurzlay

Ausoniusstein

Oberfell (village)

Goldlay

Brauneberg

Rosenberg

Moselsürsch (village)

Fahrberg

Kattenes (village)

Fahrberg

Steinchen

Alken (village)

Bleidenberg

Burgberg

Hunnenstein

Brodenbach (village)

Neuwingert

Löf (village)

Goldblume

Sonnenring

Hatzenport (village)

Stolzenberg

Kirschberg

Burg Bishofstein

Burgen (village)

Bishofstein

GROSSLAGE Rosenhang

Tries-Karden

Kappellenberg

Greth

Treppchen

Cochem (village)

Arzlay

Rosenberg

Nikolausberg

Valwig (village)

Schwarzenberg

Palmberg

Herrenberg

Bruttig-Fankel (village)

Pfarrgarten

Rathausberg

Kapellenberg

Martinsborn

Layenberg

Rosenberg

Ellenz-poltersdorf (village)

Woogberg

Ailberberg

Beilstein (village)

Schloßberg

Briedern (village)

Herrenberg

Kapellenberg

Servatiusberg

Römergarten

Mesenich (village)

Abteilberg

Goldgrübchen

Deuslay

Senheim (village)

Wahrsager

Bienengarten

Vogteiberg

Rosenberg

Bremm (village)

Abtei Kloster Stuben

Ediger-eller (village)

Stubener Klostersegen

No grosslagen

Senheim (village)

Lay

GROSSLAGE Schwarze Katz

Zell Orsteil Merl (village)

Sonneck

Adler

Königslay-Terrassen

Stephansberg

Fettgarten

Klosterberg

Zell (village)

Nußberg

Burglay-Felsen

Petersborn-Kabertchen

Pommerell

Kreuzlay

Domherrenberg

Geisberg

Zell (village)

Marienburger

Rosenborn

Römerquelle

GROSSLAGE Grafschaft

Nehren (village)

Römerberg

Ediger-Eller (village)

Osterlämmchen

Hasensprung

Elzhofberg

Pfaffenberg

Feuerberg

Pfirsichgarten

Kapplay

Bienenlay

Ediger-Eller (village)

Höll

Engelströpchen

Schützenlay

Calmont

Bremm (village)

Calmont

Schlemmertröpfchen

Laurentiusberg

Frauenberg

Neef (village)

Frauenberg

Petersberg

Rosenberg

St Aldegund (village)

Himmelreich

Palmberg Terrassen

Klosterkammer

Alf (village)

Kapellenberg

Katzenkopf

Herrenberg

Burggraf

Kronenberg

Arrasburg-Schloßberg

Hölle

Beuren (village)

Pelzerberger

Bullay (village)

Graf Beyssel-Herrenberg

Brautrock

Kronenberg

Kirchweingarten

Sonneck

GROSSLAGE Goldbäumchen

Moselkern (village)

Rosenberg

Kirchberg

Übereltzer

Müden (village)

Funkenberg

Leckmauer

Sonnenring

St Castorhöhle

Großlay

Tries Karden (village)

Dechantsberg

Münsterberg

Juffermauer

Pommern (village)

Zeisel

Goldberg

Sonnenuhr

Rosenberg

Klotton (village)

Rosenberg

Burg Cordeidelsteiner

Sonnengold

Brauneberg

Cochem (village)

Herrenberg

Pinnerkreuzberg

Schloßberg

Cochem Orsteil sehl (village)

Hochlay

Cochem (village)

Klostergarten

Sonnenberg

Bischofstuhl

Ernst (village)

Feuerberg

Kirchlay

Bruttig-frankel (village)

Götterlay

Ellenz-Poltersdorf (village)

Kurfürst

Altarberg

Rüberberger Domherrenberg

Briedern (village)

Rüberberger Domherrenberg

Senheim Orsteil Senhals (village)

Rüberberger Domherrenberg

Romerberg

Bereich Saar

GROSSLAGE Römerlay

Trier (village)

St Matheiser

Trier (village)

Sonnenburg

Marienholz

Maximiner

Domherrenberg

Trier Orsteil Eitelsbach (village)

Marienholz

Karthäuserhofberg Burgberg

Karthäuserhofberg Kronenberg

Karthäuserhofberg Orthsberg

Karthäuserhofberg Sang

Karthäuserhofberg Stirn

Trier Orsteil Kürenz (village)

Domherrenberg

Altenberg

Herrenberg

Kupp

Hammerstein

Rotlei

St Maximiner Kreuzberg

Trier Orsteil Tarforst (village)

Andreasberg

St Martiner Klosterberg

Trier Orsteil Filsch (village)

Leikaul

Trier Orsteil Korlingen (village)

Leikaul

Trier Orsteil Irsch (village)

St Martiner Hofberg

St Martiner Klosterberg

Trier Orsteil Olewig (village)

Burgberg

Jesuitenwingert

Deutschherren-kopfchen

Deutschherrenberg

Thiergarten untern kreuz

Thiergarten Felskopchen

Kurfenstenhofberg

Benediktinerberg

Trier Orsteil Biewer (village)

St petrusberg

Augenscheiner

Franzenhiem (village)

Johannisberg

Sommerau (village)

Schlossberg

Riveris (village)

Kuhnchen

Heiligenhauschen

Morscheid (village)

Heiligenhauschen

Dominikanerberg

Waldrach (village)

Heiligenhäuschen

Hubertusberg

Sonnenberg

Jungfernberg

Krone

Laurentiusberg

Ehrenberg

Doktorberg

Meisenberg

Jusuitengarten

Kürfurstenberg

Kasel (village)

Herrenberg

Dominikanerberg

Kehrnagel

Hitzlay

Nieschen

Paulinsberg

Timpert

Mertesdorf (village)

Mäuerchen

Felslay

Johannisberg

Herrenberg

Maximin Grünhaus (village)

Bruderberg

Abtsberg

Herrenberg

GROSSLAGE Scharzberg

Konz (village)

Klosterberg

Brauneberg

Sprung

Euchariusberg

Auf de Wiltingerkupp

Falkenstein (village)

Hofberg

Könen (village)

Felss

Kirschberg

Filzen (village)

Liebfrauenberg

Urbelt

Paulchen

Unterberg

Herrenberg

Steinerberg

Altenberg

Hamm (village)

Altenberg

Kanzem (village)

Atlenberg

Horecker

Schlossberg

Sonnenberg

Mennig (village)

Herrenberg

Sonnenberg

Euchariusberg

Altenberg

Oberemmel (village)

Karlsberg

Altenberg

Hutte

Raul

Agritiusberg

Rosenberg

Pellingen (village)

Jesuitsgarten

Herrgottsrock

Wiltingen (village)

Schloßberg

Roesenberg

Sandberg

Holle

Kupp

Braune kupp

Gottesfuss

Klosterberg

Braunefels

Schlangengraben

Wawern (village)

Ritterpfad

Jesuitenberg

Herrenberger

Goldberg

Schoden (village)

Sarrfeilser Marienberg

Herrenberg

Geisberg

Ockfen (village)

Kupp

Herrenberg

Heppenstein

Bockstein

Zickelgarten

Neuwies

Geisberg

Ayl (village)

Kupp

Herrenberger

Scheidterberg

Saarburg (village)

Klosterberg

Fuchs

Stirn

Kupp

Schloßberg

Rausch

Antoniusbrunnen

Bergsclo ß chen

Laurentiusberg

Irsch (village)

Sonnenburg

Hubertusberg

Vogelsang

Serrig (village)

König Johanniberg

Antoniusberg

Schlßsaarsteiner

Schloßsaarfelser schoßberg

Kupp

Vogelsang

Heiligenborn

Hoeppslei

Würtzberg

Herrenberg

Kastel-Staadt (village)

König Johann berg

Maximer pralat

MSR Grand Cru Vineyards as proposed by Hugh Johnson

Scharzhofberg, Saar

Maxim Grünhauser Abtsberg, Ruwer

Karthäuserhofberg (in part), Ruwer

Piesporter Goldtröpfchen (in part), Mosel

Piesporter Domherr, Mosel

Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr, Mosel

Bernkasteler Doctor, Mosel

Wehlener Sonnenuhr (in part), Mosel

Ürziger Würzgarten (in part), Mosel

Erdener Prälat, Mosel

Erdener Treppchen (in part), Mosel

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mosel Saar Ruwer