The Sites
Bruderschaft, Laurentiuslay and Klostergarten, are the names of the old terroir in Köwerich, Klüsserath and Leiwen, in which our mostly more than 30 year old vines grow.
The Vineyards
The steep vineyards, with at least 30% incline, sometimes up to 70% are all exposed towards the Moselle in south-western direction. This guarantees optimal exposition to the sun and a long sunshine and brings the late ripening Riesling to full maturity. The warm days and cool nights in the ripening phase from end of August until the harvesting at the end of October or November, contribute particularly to the forming of the Riesling's aroma.
The Soil
The skeletal, weathered Devon slate soil stores the heat of the day and returns it during the night to the vines to create a particularly mild climate in the vineyards. The roots of the Riesling go deep into the ground and the rocks beneath, striving after water and minerals which add to the wine's content and expressive character.
In line with nature we farm the soil under ecological considerations and thus reduce chemicals to the strictest minimum. In our vineyards we constantly allow herbs and plants which are providing an ecosystem for beneficial organisms, like the Apollo butterfly or the green lizard.
The Region
Welcome to the traditional wine growing area Mosel-Saar-Ruwer in Germany.
The Moselle
"Moselle" and "wine" are terms that go together for more than 2000 years. One of the most assiduous propagandists of the Moselle, the Roman politician and poet Decimus Magnus Ausonius (310 – 393) from Bordeaux, knew more than 1600 years ago how to describe the Moselle and wine landscape. He speaks of "hills bright green with vines, and the pleasant stream below of the gently murmuring Moselle", he describes the "happy labourers and hard-working farmers, now hasten to the peak, now down the ridge".
The Roman Wine Route | |
| The Roman Wine Route was 1000 years ago Rome´s main transportation road for wine from the cellars in Trier to the military fortresses in the heartland. Since the Moselle was often not navigable, roads were built alongside the river, which started in the area of the central Moselle towards Colonia Agrippina (Cologne) as well as towards Moguntia (Mainz) through the Eifel region and the Hunsrück mountains. | |
| If you follow the route today from Trier the along the course of the Moselle, you will find between Kenn and Leiwen the 18 villages that compose today the touristy 'Roman Wine Route' ("RÖMISCHE WEINSTRASSE"). |  |
The Wine Village Leiwen
Leiwen is a picture post card wine village on the Moselle with 1600 inhabitants and about 450 hectares of vineyards. It counts as the biggest wine growing village at the Moselle. Extensive leisure opportunities make Leiwen a favoured place for holidays. The Moselle is perfect for fishing or for a boat trip to Trier or to Bernkastel, for instance along the famous vineyard site "Leiwener Laurentiuslay". Visit Leiwen in the Internet.
