seven wineries from the Middle Mosel region
Weingut Johann Wilhelm Schild, Ürzig, Mosel
Weingut Josef Bernard-Kieren is one of the most decorated vineyards in the SRS portfolio. They have been an award winning family winery for generations - awards include German Federal Honor Award 2004, State Honor Award 1992, 1995 and 2002, and 2008, numerous medals at Federal and State wine awards, Winner of German Riesling Estate Award, Silver medals in "Best of Riesling" Category, Listed under Top 100 Best German Wineries by the German Chamber of Agriculture, recommended by renowned wine magazines such as Gault Millaut, Eichelmann, Weinplus, Weinwelt "Alles über Wein", Feinschmecker, Weingourmet, and Vinum und Selection. Widely recognized as one of the most venerated vineyards in Germany, Josef and Jutta Bernard Kieren are excited to introduce their wines in the US.
Weingut Philipps-Eckstein, Graach, Mosel
Located in the village of Graach-Schäferei in the Mosel wine-growing region in Germany, the Philipps-Eckstein family has been involved in wine making since the 17th century. The estate itself was founded in 1968 by Hans Philipps. Son Patrick and wife Michaela took over the business in 1998. Since then, considerable invest ment has been made, mainly to improve the cellar with cutting-edge technology. The vineyard area totals 9 acres in the top-rated Graacher Domprobst and Himmelreich sites, as well as holdings in the Bernkasteler Johannisbrünnchen. More than 90% of the area is planted with Riesling, the remainder includes small amounts of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Dornfelder. A third each of the wines is made in a dry, semi-dry and sweet style, and all wines are matured exclusively in stainless steel tanks. Annual production is around 40,000 bottles of wine. Winemaker Patrick Philipps has recently received well-deserved recognition for his unwavering dedication to the art and science of Riesling making. In October 2009 Patrick Philipps was awarded the fourth consecutive Federal Honor Award by the DLG. This means the estate has been officially named best German wine estate of all 13 growing regions for the fourth time since 2006, an unprecedented success in the German wine world.
Weingut Stiftung St. Nikolaus Hospital, Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel
Nikolaus von Kues (Cusanus) 1401-1464
Achim Kerpen, grandmaster of Riesling and one of the Mosel's most recognized Riesling makers, is in charge of 19 acres of prime vineyard sites including Bernkasteler Badstube, Brauneberger Juffer and Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr, Bernkasteler Lay, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Graacher Himmelreich, and Graacher Domprobst. Numerous national and international awards reflect the high quality of the wines from the St. Nikolaus Hospital winery. Its is also an important member of the Bernkasteler Ring Riesling Wine Auction Society. Proceeds from the Nikolaus Cusanus Estate benefit about 300 local disabled residents. We hope you enjoy these world class wines and feel good knowing you are supporting a worthy cause!
Weingut Klaus Meierer, Kesten, Mosel
The Klaus Meierer Estate dates back to 1767 and cultivates 12.5 acres of the steep Mosel slopes around the village of Kesten. Their top vineyards include Kestener Paulinsberg and Paulinshofberg, two well-kept secrets resting between famous neighbors in Brauneberg
and Piesport. Son Matthias joined father Klaus in 2005 after graduating with top honors from the world-renowned Geisenheim Viticulture and Enology University. Matthias further honed his wine-making skills while working at various commercial Riesling estates in Germany and as time allows, he continues to work as winemaker at the Fritz Haag estate, just a stone’s throw from his house across the Mosel. Matthias is among the most dedicated Riesling vintners of his generation. His achievements were recognized by the German Federal Society of Agriculture last fall when he was awarded the highly coveted “Young Vintner of the Year 2008” title.
Weingut Ernst Schiffmann, Brauneberg, Mosel
The Schiffmann Estate has been in the possession of the Schiffmann family since 1624. Today Ernst Schiffmann is the 12th generation vintner leading the estate, and the family continues to cultivate 10 acres of vines in the Brauneberger Juffer, Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr and Brauneberger Mandelgraben vineyards. 70% of their production is Riesling. The remainder varies among the Rivaner, Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), Dornfelder and Kerner varietals. Selective harvesting as well as gentle, state of the art vinification techniques make for clean, pure Rieslings that reflect the Brauneberger terroir. “Educational wine sales have become more and more important in recent years” Ernst Schiffmann says, offering Riesling seminars in their tasting room, located in the timber frame house pictured above. This style of architecture is typical of the Mosel region; this particular building is a cultural landmark and dates back to 1745. The Schiffmanns invite you to stop by Moselweinstrasse #147 in the town of Brauneberg.
Weingut Rudi und Herta Veit, Piesport, Mosel
In the village of Piesport’s most splendid vineyards such as Goldtröpfchen, Domherr, Falkenberg and Treppchen, the Veit family cultivates about 12 acres of the steep Mosel slopes. Rudi Veit has been the winemaker for over 30 years. Riesling is his favorite and grown in the majority of his vineyards. By gently cutting the vines during the winter months and cultivating the slate soils in the spring, he provides ideal growing conditions for his vines. Intense care of the foliage during the vegetation period is critical for healthy and ripe grapes, Rudi says. The heat storing slate soil makes for wines rich in mineral nutrients. Upon grape harvest, winemaker Rudi focuses on gentle processing of the grapes, intense pre-clarifying of the grape must (juice of freshly pressed grapes, pre-fermentation), and chill fermentation to obtain very fruity Riesling wines, ranging from dry to semi-dry to sweet. Storage of the young wines in “Fuder” oak barrels while maintaining the fine yeasts prior to bottling give the wines their finishing touch.