Moselle region - wine-making traditions and Roman heritage

The Moselle wine-growing region is situated in the west of Germany between the German-French border and the Rhine. It is a region of superlatives. This is where wine-growers produce first-rate, internationally renowned wines in the world's largest contiguous riesling region, and where visitors can see the impressive Roman legacy in Germany's oldest town and experience a fantastic blend of ancient culture, winemaking traditions and spectacular countryside. The region's proximity to France and Luxembourg and the warm climate resulting from its sheltered valley position give the region a special charm all of its own.

Experience 2,000 years of viticulture
Vineyards at altitudes of up to 285 metres and famously steep, neatly terraced hillsides of slate with gradients of up to 68 per cent are the remarkable hallmarks of the Moselle, along with the tranquil valleys of this stunning wine-growing region. Vineyards line the entire length of the Moselle river, which runs for around 240 kilometres, as well as its tributaries the Saar and Ruwer, which carve their way through the Rhenish-Westphalian Slate Mountains providing the perfect conditions for wine-growing.   There's plenty of opportunity to sample the wide variety of wines produced in the region at one of the many wine-growing estates and wineries. From traditional wine-tasting to wine appreciation seminars, you'll find out everything there is to know about wine in the Moselle region. Famous scenic routes exploring the theme of wine include the Moselle Wine Route from Perl to Koblenz, the Saar-Riesling Route from Konz to Serrig and the Ruwer-Riesling Route.

Reminders of antiquity on the Roman Road
The Moselle region has a rich Roman heritage - from Germany's oldest town, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Trier, to Germany's oldest wine-growing village, Neumagen, where the famous Roman wine ship (a stone relief) was found, and the former Roman settlement of Koblenz. At the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle, you'll find a variety of Roman villas, manor houses, temples, graves, historical wine presses and limeworks that take you back in time to the world of Roman Antiquity. You can follow in the footsteps of the ancient Romans along the Roman Road, which links up around 120 ancient attractions along the Moselle and Saar rivers, in the Hunsrück and Eifel regions, in the Saarland and in Luxembourg.

Medieval splendour - Eltz Castle
In addition to a wealth of Roman monuments, the Moselle region also has a rich medieval history. There are a number of beautiful hilltop castles along the banks of the Moselle. The stretch of the river between Cochem and Koblenz is known as 'castle country'. A prime example of a real fairytale castle, the romantic Eltz Castle dates from the 12th century. Despite a number of wars and the French Revolution, it has remained unscathed and is today considered one of the finest castles in Germany.

"Doctor Wine" - culinary stories from the Moselle
When the Trier bishop Boemund II lay seriously ill in Landshut Castle and no medicine could help him, a Bernkastel wine-grower was brought before him who gave him a casket of wine from his best vineyard. The patient was cured a few days later and is believed to have said, "this is the real doctor!" Since that time, this small Moselle vineyard has been known by the exclusive name of "Doctor". You'll hear many other stories like this about wine along the Moselle. From fruity riesling from the steep slate terraces to regional specialities such as elbling and auxerrois from the Triassic limestone of the Upper Moselle - you can enjoy the fruity, yet light wines of the Moselle, Saar and Ruwer with their mineral overtones at the finest restaurants, quaint wine growers' taverns, old wine cellars, rustic wine bars or picturesque courtyards around the region. To accompany the wine, the region offers a selection of traditional dishes such as Wingertseintopf (pork ribs with sauerkraut and bacon) as well as light, easily digested dishes with local river fish such as trout, pike and pike-perch served in a creamy wine sauce. One of the region's particular specialities in autumn is the Federweisser (new wine that has only just begun to ferment) served with Zwiebelkuchen (bacon and onion flan).