Mosel
Cool continental
Germany's slate river valley, with some of Europe's steepest vineyards and the most delicate, mineral, low-alcohol Riesling.
Overview
About Mosel
The Mosel, known until 2007 as Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, follows the winding river and its tributaries the Saar and Ruwer to the Rhine at Koblenz. Riesling makes up the majority of plantings, and the great vineyards of Bernkastel, Piesport, Wehlen, Graach and Ürzig are among the most sought-after in the country. The Bremmer Calmont, with slopes of up to about 65 degrees, is often cited as Europe's steepest vineyard.
Mosel Riesling is prized for its lightness. Wines, especially those at Kabinett level, often come in at 8–9% alcohol, with a fine balance of sweetness and piercing acidity that lets them age for decades.
Mosel is marked on the map.
Germany
Shaded: Rheinland-Pfalz. Map units are states, provinces or départements, so a smaller place appears as the larger area that contains it.
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Cool continental
Cool, with a long ripening season. The river's bends and the steep south-facing slopes provide the sunlight and warmth needed to ripen Riesling, while the cold climate keeps acidity high and alcohol low.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Devonian slate — blue, grey and red — that absorbs heat in the day and radiates it at night, on slopes so steep that many vineyards have to be worked by hand.
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
Mosel wines carry a ripeness level, a village and a vineyard, and top vineyards are named on the label.
Grosse Lage
The best named vineyards, such as Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Bernkasteler Doctor and Scharzhofberger, under the VDP.
Prädikat levels
Kabinett (light), Spätlese (riper), Auslese and above (very ripe or sweet), for many Mosel Rieslings.
Sub-areas
The Saar, the Ruwer and the Middle Mosel are the best-known stretches.
What's grown here
Grapes
Each grape's page links back here.