Urzig & Erden- the mittelmosel

The Mosel, with its capital city of Trier, was originally developed to supply the Roman Army of the Rhine- the Romans considered wine as important as food and clothing when it came to provisioning its army. the Riesling grape, developed into its present form in the Middle Ages, has become synonymous with the nearly vertical, terraced slopes of slate-based scree along the broad sweeping curves of this beautiful river valley.

The vineyard villages of Urzig and Erden, in the central portion of the Mosel district, produce some of the most lush and compelling wines of all of Germany. The relatively cool climate and long summers allow optimal ripeness with great acidity, which in turn allows the production of some of the world’s greatest sweet wines, the sublime Spatlese, Auslese and on occasion Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese and even an occasional Eiswein.

Erdener Treppchen:

Vineyards so steep and inaccessible that, centuries ago, staircases were carved into the living rock of the site to allow the workers to access the vines. Soils are a mix of decomposed red and gray slates. Steep, south and west facing. Superb, brightly acidic, mineral-driven wines.

What is “Herzlay?”

Effective with the 2014 vintage, German labelling law allows the inclusion of a Gewann, the equivalent of a lieu-dit… a vineyard or subdivision of a vineyard recognized as unique but without formal cru status. So far, 10 have been created in the Mosel.

Herzlay, the heart of the Treppchen vineyard, is such a site. The site is set on decomposed red slate soils on a 65-degree slope. Dr. Hermann has been farming this monopole site and its 100-year old ungrafted vines for years, and in spite of the earlier prohibition on such labelling, they have always included the designation on their labels. Today, the same wine would be labelled Erdener Herzlay (or Erdener Herzlei).

And Erdener Pralat?

A tiny 3-acre vineyard perfectly situated on steep south-facing slopes opposite the village of Erden. Weathered red slate soils. Perfect exposure, centenary ungrafted vines. Mineral driven wines of utmost concentration. Rarities not to be missed… no wonder this vineyard was reserved for the Archpriest!

Weingut Dr. Hermann

The estate, founded over 400 years ago, is located in the town of Ürzig in the Mosel. Although the family has been involved in winemaking for several centuries, the estate as it is now was created in 1967 when Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben’s property was sub-divided. Rudy Hermann took over the estate from his father in 1974 and his son Christian joined him as the winemaker in 2001.

The vineyard area totals about 16 acres, with vineyards in the following sites: Herrenberg, Pralat and Treppchen in Erden, Würzgarten in Ürzig, Försterlay in Lösnich, as well as Rosenberg (Kinheim).

Their philosophy is that quality starts in the vineyard with restrained pruning, hand harvesting, natural and careful cultivation of vineyard soil. The result is beautiful, elegant wine from some of the most famous vineyard sites in the world. The Hermanns specialize in Riesling grown on steep rock slopes of the famous vineyards of the Erdener Prälat, Erdener Treppchen, and the Ürziger Würzgarten. All of their vineyards grow exclusively on old vines—ungrafted Riesling vines, which deliver beautiful, complex Riesling wines.

The Wines

Terroir is honored to have a limited selection quantity of great, mature library wines from this amazing estate:

• Erdener Treppchen 2006 Spatlese

• Erdener Treppchen 2007 Spatlese “Herzlay”

• Erdener Treppchen 2005 Auslese

• Erdener Pralat 2006 Auslese Goldkapsul (375ml)

• Erdener Pralat 2006 Auslese Longgoldkapsul (375 ml)

• Urziger Wurzgarten 2005 Auslese

Now… the Wurzgarten: