Mittelmosel
Encyclopedia
The name Mittelmosel refers to the approximately 120-kilometer section of the river Moselle, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate
in Germany
from the city of Trier
to Zell
. The subsequent section of the River to its mouth, where it flows into the Rhine, is known as the Untermosel
.
The Mittelmosel landscape is formed by the many meanders of the river, between the Hunsrück
and the Eifel
highlands
in a deep valley with steep slopes on which the grapes for the Mosel wine are grown. The river follows an exceptionally beautiful scenic route. There are a number of well-known wine and tourist destinations in the Mittelmosel including Schweich
, Longuich
, Mehring, Klüsserath
, Trittenheim
, Neumagen-Dhron
, Piesport
, Brauneberg-Filzen, Bernkastel-Kues
, Zeltingen-Rachtig
, Kröv
, Traben-Trarbach
, Reil and Zell
.
The Mittelmosel has been a winegrowing region since the days of the Romans
. The Romans used the Moselle even then for transportation of the wines produced there.
The Mosel wine region was formerly the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer winegrowing area and is a large producer of Riesling
, a white wine. Although the Moselle is not a classic red wine area, following the demand that has developed since the late 1990s, an increasing quantity of red wine is produced. Apart from the Riesling grape there are also isolated plantings of Rivaner/Müller-Thurgau
, Kerner
and White and Blue Spätburgunder.
The winemaking businesses in the Mittelmosel also offer Sekt, wine and fruit brandies
and liqueur
s. They market their products broadly, as in all wine regions, and present themselves in Wine Cella, small self-owned seasonal restaurants (Straußwirtschaften), and during the warm season at farmers markets (Hoffeste).
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
from the city of Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
to Zell
Zell (Mosel)
Zell is a town in the Cochem-Zell district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Zell has roughly 4,300 inhabitants and is the seat of the like-named Verbandsgemeinde.-Location:...
. The subsequent section of the River to its mouth, where it flows into the Rhine, is known as the Untermosel
Untermosel
Untermosel is a Verbandsgemeinde in the district Mayen-Koblenz, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is situated along the lower course of the Mosel, south-west of Koblenz...
.
The Mittelmosel landscape is formed by the many meanders of the river, between the Hunsrück
Hunsrück
The Hunsrück is a low mountain range in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is bounded by the river valleys of the Moselle , the Nahe , and the Rhine . The Hunsrück is continued by the Taunus mountains on the eastern side of the Rhine. In the north behind the Moselle it is continued by the Eifel...
and the Eifel
Eifel
The Eifel is a low mountain range in western Germany and eastern Belgium. It occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and the south of the German-speaking Community of Belgium....
highlands
Highland (geography)
The term highland or upland is used to denote any mountainous region or elevated mountainous plateau. Generally speaking, the term upland tends to be used for ranges of hills, typically up to 500-600m, and highland for ranges of low mountains.The Scottish Highlands refers to the mountainous...
in a deep valley with steep slopes on which the grapes for the Mosel wine are grown. The river follows an exceptionally beautiful scenic route. There are a number of well-known wine and tourist destinations in the Mittelmosel including Schweich
Schweich
Schweich is a municipality in the Trier-Saarburg district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is situated on the river Moselle, approx. northeast of Trier....
, Longuich
Longuich
Longuich is a municipality in the Trier-Saarburg district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.Longuich can be found on the banks of the Mosel river...
, Mehring, Klüsserath
Klüsserath
Klüsserath on the Moselle River is a commune of the Verbandsgemeinde Schweich in the district Trier-Saarburg in Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany, between Bernkastel-Kues and Trier.-Location:...
, Trittenheim
Trittenheim
Trittenheim on the Middle Moselle is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.- Location :...
, Neumagen-Dhron
Neumagen-Dhron
Neumagen-Dhron is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is also the seat of the Verbandsgemeinde of Neumagen-Dhron and a state-recognized tourism community...
, Piesport
Piesport
Piesport is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.- Location :...
, Brauneberg-Filzen, Bernkastel-Kues
Bernkastel-Kues
Bernkastel-Kues is a well-known winegrowing centre on the Middle Moselle in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany...
, Zeltingen-Rachtig
Zeltingen-Rachtig
Zeltingen-Rachtig is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.- Location :...
, Kröv
Kröv
Kröv is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.- Location :...
, Traben-Trarbach
Traben-Trarbach
Traben-Trarbach on the Middle Moselle is a town in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the seat of the like-named Verbandsgemeinde and a state-recognized climatic spa .- Location :...
, Reil and Zell
Zell (Mosel)
Zell is a town in the Cochem-Zell district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Zell has roughly 4,300 inhabitants and is the seat of the like-named Verbandsgemeinde.-Location:...
.
The Mittelmosel has been a winegrowing region since the days of the Romans
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. The Romans used the Moselle even then for transportation of the wines produced there.
The Mosel wine region was formerly the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer winegrowing area and is a large producer of Riesling
Riesling
Riesling is a white grape variety which originated in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling wines are usually varietally...
, a white wine. Although the Moselle is not a classic red wine area, following the demand that has developed since the late 1990s, an increasing quantity of red wine is produced. Apart from the Riesling grape there are also isolated plantings of Rivaner/Müller-Thurgau
Müller-Thurgau
Müller-Thurgau is a variety of white grape which was created by Hermann Müller from the Swiss Canton of Thurgau in 1882. It is a crossing of Riesling with Madeleine Royale. It is used to make white wine in Germany, Austria, Northern Italy, Hungary, England, in Australia, Czech Republic, Slovakia,...
, Kerner
Kerner (grape)
The Kerner grape is an aromatic white grape variety. It was bred in 1929 by August Herold by crossing Trollinger and Riesling. Herold was working at a plant breeding station in Lauffen in the Württemberg region of Germany. This station belonged to a state breeding institute headquartered in...
and White and Blue Spätburgunder.
The winemaking businesses in the Mittelmosel also offer Sekt, wine and fruit brandies
Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
and liqueur
Liqueur
A liqueur is an alcoholic beverage that has been flavored with fruit, herbs, nuts, spices, flowers, or cream and bottled with added sugar. Liqueurs are typically quite sweet; they are usually not aged for long but may have resting periods during their production to allow flavors to marry.The...
s. They market their products broadly, as in all wine regions, and present themselves in Wine Cella, small self-owned seasonal restaurants (Straußwirtschaften), and during the warm season at farmers markets (Hoffeste).