Mosel

Question 1

Where were the first seeds of German viticulture found?

Answer 1

In a roman press house in Piesport

Question 2

Which estate is Scharzhofberg most commonly associated with?

Answer 2

Weingut Egon Müller

Question 3

What is an Alleinbesitz?

Answer 3

A sole-vineyard ownership

*rare in mosel

Question 4

What is the older monastery in the Mosel?

Answer 4

The Benedictine Saint Maximin Abbey in Trier

*largest vineyard owner in mosel for more than a millenium

Question 5

What was the Rieslingsedikt

Answer 5

“Riesling edict” - Archbishop Clemens Wenzeslaus of Sachsen decreed that his subjects were to plant “good vines” like Riesling

Question 6

What were some top villages in the Napoleanic era?

Answer 6

-Brauneberg
-Piesport
-Wehlen
-Graach
-Zeltingen
-Erden

Question 7

What was Gallisierung?

Answer 7

Gallization - the adding of a sugar-water solution to dilute high acidity of unfermented grape must and increase palatibility of the finished wine.

Question 8

What is Naturwein?

Answer 8

Natural wine - wine made without additions

Question 9

What was the clotten map?

Answer 9

A tax map made of the Mosel in 1868

Question 10

When did Phylloxera hit the Mosel?

Answer 10

1907

*It struggled to survive in Germany’s loose slate soils

Question 11

What happened in the Mosel in 1985?

Answer 11

A few producers were found to add glycol (antifreeze) to increase the perception of sweetness and body in their wines.

Question 12

What is the climate of the Mosel?

Answer 12

-Continental
-Extremes moderated by wet winds from the Atlantic
-Average temps increase from SouthWest to NorthEast
-Temperate summers, mild autumns and wet bitter cold winters

Question 13

What happened in the spring of 2024?

Answer 13

Some growers lost entire vintage due to earlier budbreak followed by a typical April or May cold snap

Question 14

Where is the Mosel Valley tucked in between?

Answer 14

2 mountain ranges
-Eifel to the west
-Hunsrück to the East
Both part of the Rhenish Massif

Question 15

What is the average mid growing temperature in the Mosel?

Answer 15

18°C but now easily shoot far higher for longer periods

*historically, mild autumns and cool nights allowed for slower ripening of Riesling.
*occasional peaks above 30°C

Question 16

What benefit does cold air pouring down the mountains through small side valleys bring?

Answer 16

-Lower nighttime temps
-Autumn fogs beneficial for botrytis development
-Frosts

Question 17

Describe Riesling

Answer 17

It is the Mosel’s signature grape covering 62% of plantings.
It is cold hardy and late budding, avoiding spring frosts and does well in long, temperate autumns.

Question 18

Describe Elbling

Answer 18

Once widespread, now limited to upper Mosel.
It is well suited to calcareous soils, with low alcohol and high acidity, it is commonly used for Sekt.

Question 19

Describe Müller-Thurgau

Answer 19

A cross from the 19th century, it gained popularity in the 20th century for its high yields and easy ripening.
It is often criticised for diluting quality, but can still be found across the Mosel, with plantings now in decline.

Question 20

Describe Spätburgunder

Answer 20

Banned in the Mosel from 1933 to 1986, it now accounts for 5% of plantings.
It was once associated with high yielding clones and poor quality wines.
It now produces slender, elegant reds mostly from slate soils.
Common base for Mosel Rosés.

Question 21

Describe Weißburgunder

Answer 21

Small but meaningful presence, softer and rounder than Riesling. A friendlier alternative to the high acid Riesling.

Question 22

Describe Dornfelder

Answer 22

After the lifting of the red wine ban in 1986, was initially valued for filling sites unsuited for Riesling or Pinot Noir, but is now in decline as producers shift focus back to quality.

Question 23

What are the 3 notable training methods in the Mosel?

Answer 23

Einzelpfahlerziehung - historically common for sunlight and airflow, now only 5-7%.

Moselherz - Rare but traditional, maximises airflow and sunlight but very labor intensive.

VSP - Now the dominant system. Easier canopy management and optimal sunlight collection.

Question 24

How long does Mosel’s growing season last?

Answer 24

120-150 days
Longer than most wine regions(100 days)

*Temperate autumns allow for slow extended ripening, harvest may last till november

Question 25

Describe 3 notable fermentation choices

Answer 25

Spontaneous fermentation - increasingly favoured, using native yeast. Controlled fermentation - SS and fiberglass tanks with temp control introduced in the 1960s, allows producers to accentuate primary characteristics. Stone-wall cellars - provide cool, humid conditions for unique microflora.

Question 26

Describe 3 aging vessels in the Mosel

Answer 26

SS/Fiberglass - maintain fruit purity, widely used. Fuder 1000L - Neutral old oak, allows wine to "breathe" and gain texture. Halbfufer 500L - Similar to Fuder but allows more oxygen ingress.

Question 27

What are some white wine making practices in the Mosel today?

Answer 27

-Stopping fermentation for wines with RS. -Malolactic conversion generally avoided. -Lees aging for texture and stability. -Wines typically bottled in spring after harvest.

Question 28

What are some red wine making practices in the Mosel today?

Answer 28

- Gentle extraction and neutral oak aging for Spätburgunder. -Wines typically bottled summer after harvest, but may be held over 2 winters.

Question 29

What are the benefits of slate soils?

Answer 29

Stores heat, aid drainage, force vines to root deeply.

Question 30

What did Napoleon reforms of 1794 do?

Answer 30

Redistributed vineyards and created the small-scale structure still seen today.

Question 31

What is a challenge that the growing number of organic/biodynamic farmers are facing?

Answer 31

Recent crop losses from fungal diseases (2017,2021).

Question 32

What are some impacts of climate change on viticulture?

Answer 32

Warmer springs - earlier budbreaks, risk of cold snaps/frost Rainfall - Promotes rot and mildew Rising temperature - Heat stress

Question 33

What effects do the rivers play?

Answer 33

-Heat retention + reflective capacity warms region. -Thermal influence push up warm air.

Question 34

What effects do the rivers play?

Answer 34

-Heat retention + reflective capacity warms region. -Thermal influence push up warm air.

Question 35

Types of metamorphic rock in Moael and where they are found

Answer 35

Blue(Devonian) slate - Most widespread, especially in Middle Mosel around Bernkastel, Drohn, Graach, Wehlen Gray slate - Mainly found in Saar, particularly near Saarburg. Red slate - concentrated in the middle mosel, famously found in Ürzig and Erden

Question 36

Types of volcanic rocks and where they are found in Mosel

Answer 36

Rhyolite - Ürziger Würzgarten (Middel Mosel) Diabase - Saar Valley and area near Trier

Question 37

Types of sedimentary rocks and where they are found

Answer 37

Mostly in the upper mosel and on some terraces Muschelkalk- Upper Mosel Keuper marls - Upper Mosel Loess and alluvial deposits - middle mosel river terraces *Muschelkalf important for Elbling

Question 38

What is the hottest and driest region in the Mosel?

Answer 38

Untermosel

Question 39

What are the six Bereiche of the Mosel

Answer 39

Moseltor Obermosel Saar Ruwer Bernkastel(middle mosel) Burg cochem(Terrassenmosel)

Question 40

Describe Moseltor and OberMosel

Answer 40

-Smallest regions, limestone-dominated soils -Focus on Burgundian varieties and Elbling, not Riesling.

Question 41

Describe Saar and it's key vineyards and villages(7)

Answer 41

-Cool climate with steep slopes and slate soils. -Wines with high-acid, elegant and age-worthy. Key vineyards and villages: **Wiltingen - Scharzhofberg** One of Germany's most iconic Riesling vineyards **Saarburg - Rausch** Slate-rich site producing structured wines **Ockfen - Bockstein** Steep, high elevation sites *Other villages/vineyards Serrig - Schloss Saarsteiner - Schloss Saarfelser Schlossberg Ayl - Kupp Kanzem- Altenberg Oberemmel - Hütte

Question 42

Describe Ruwer and it's key villages/vineyards(2)

Answer 42

-Tiny tributary, ancient winemaking -Crystalline, herbaceous Rieslings Key villages/vineyards: **Eitelsbach - Karthäuserhofberg** Historic monopole with cool, forested climate **Mertesdof - Abtsberg** Elegant, age-worth wines from Devonian slate

Question 43

Describe Bernkastel and it's key villages/vineyards(12)

Answer 43

-Heart of the mosel, home to its most legendary sites. -Slate rich soils, balanced ripeness and vibrant acidity Key villages and vineyards: **Piesport - Goldtröpfchen** S-face amphithreatre, structured juice rieslings **Brauneberg - Juffer** Steep vineyard w/ iron-rich slate **Bernkastel - Doctor** Historic,Prestigious,Powerful **Graach - Himmelreich & Domprobst** Elegant, strong minerality **Wehlen - Sonnenuhr** Iconic "Sundial" vineyard, ageability **Ürzig - Würzgarten** Red slate soils give wines spicy complexity **Erden - Domprobst & Treppchen** Small steep vineyards, rich complex rieslings Other villages/vineyards: Leiwen - Laurentiuslay Trittenheim - Apotheke Zeltingen - Sonnenuhr Kröv Enkirch - Batterieberg & Steffensberg

Question 44

Describe Terrassenmosel (Burg Cochem) and it's key villages and vineyards

Answer 44

-Terraced vineyards carved into cliffs -Sun-soaked, bold rieslings Key villages and vineyards: **Pünderich - Marienburg** Iconic steep vineyards **Winningen - Uhlen** Dramatically terraced, sun soaked **Bremm - Calmont** "Hot mountain" Latin Other vineyards: Winningen - Röttgen

Question 45

Describe Terrassenmosel (Burg Cochem) and it's key villages and vineyards

Answer 45

-Terraced vineyards carved into cliffs -Sun-soaked, bold rieslings Key villages and vineyards: **Pünderich - Marienburg** Iconic steep vineyards **Winningen - Uhlen** Dramatically terraced, sun soaked **Bremm - Calmont** "Hot mountain" Latin Other vineyards: Winningen - Röttgen

Question 46

Where is the worlds largest Riesling producer?

Answer 46

In Bernkastel, Moselland Winzergenossenschaft eG *Largest Co-op in rhineland-Palatinate est. 1968