Mosel
The Mosel is the world reference for low-alcohol, off-dry, slate-driven Riesling. Vineyards on near-vertical blue and red slate slopes follow the river's tight bends, capturing scarce sun in a marginal climate. The classic Kabinett-Spätlese-Auslese sweetness ladder produces wines as low as 7-9% ABV, with electric acidity that ages for decades. Trockenbeerenauslese and Eiswein finish the dessert end.
Signature grapes
Defining styles
Famous appellations
- Mittelmosel
- Saar
- Ruwer
History
Romans planted the first vines in the 1st century CE. The Prussian tax system of 1868 ranked vineyards by quality and set a template the modern VDP classification echoes. The 1971 German wine law unified the system but also enabled bulk Liebfraumilch sales that dragged the country's reputation through the 70s and 80s. A two-decade quality revival has restored top growers (J.J. Prüm, Egon Müller, Dr. Loosen) to global standing.