MOSEL - Regional Bio Flashcards
MOSEL Facts
The most famous of Germany’s 13 official regions and the third largest in production. It boarders both Luxembourg and France, following the Mosel river from its confluence with the Rhine near Koblenz. Until 2007 the region was known as Mosel-Saar-Ruwer.
The region is dominated by a very cool, northern continental climate and the steep slopes optimizes the ripening of the grapes, with the best sites taking advantage of the solar radiation from the river onto the vines and the dark slate soils that radiate the heat back at night. Riesling as well as Muller-Thurgau is widely planted.
The soil is dominated by porous slate which is ideal for drainage and heat retaining properties.
Upper Mosel: most southern section near the river’s origin along the French and Luxembourg border, includes the Saar and Ruwer, and is centered around Trier.
Middle Mosel (Mittelmosel): main winegrowing area stretching from the village of Zell to Schweich and includes Bernkastel and Piesport. The soils here give the wine a distinct slatey-mineral note.
Lower Mosel: includes the region south of the city of Koblenz to the village of Alf near Zell. Most northern wine region of the Mosel and includes the area’s confluence with the Rhine river.
