Mosel

Technical Summary

• Classification: Anbaugebiet (one of 13 German quality wine regions)
• Geographic scope: Mosel River valley and tributaries (Saar, Ruwer) in Rhineland-Palatinate
• Grape dominance: Riesling (~60% of ~8,800 ha)
• Terroir: Steep slate slopes; cool climate; among world’s northernmost quality wine regions
• Quality system: Prädikatswein hierarchy based on must weight

Regulatory Constraints (Verified)

Authorized Varieties

Primary:

• Riesling (~60% of plantings)

• Müller-Thurgau (~15%)

• Elbling

• Pinot Blanc (Weissburgunder)

• Pinot Gris (Grauburgunder)

• Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder)

• Source: German Wine Law

Geographic Delimitation

Six Bereiche (districts):

• Moseltor
• Obermosel
• Saar
• Ruwertal
• Bernkastel
• Burg Cochem

Tributary regions:

• Saar: Known for steely, high-acid Riesling

• Ruwer: Delicate, refined style

• Total vineyard area: ~8,800 hectares

• Slate types: Devonian blue, gray, and red slate

• Source: Deutsches Weininstitut

Prädikatswein Must Weight Requirements

Prädikat	Minimum Oechsle (Riesling)
Kabinett	70°
Spätlese	76°
Auslese	83°
Beerenauslese (BA)	110°
Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)	150°
Eiswein	110° (frozen grapes)

• No chaptalisation permitted for Prädikatswein
• Source: German Wine Law

VDP Classification (Private/Voluntary)

Level	Description
VDP.Gutswein	Estate wine
VDP.Ortswein	Village wine
VDP.Erste Lage	Premier Cru equivalent
VDP.Grosse Lage	Grand Cru equivalent

• Grosse Lage requirement: Dry wines labeled “GG” (Grosses Gewächs)
• Source: VDP.Die Prädikatsweingüter

Sweetness Designations

Term	Residual Sugar
Trocken (Dry)	≤9 g/L
Halbtrocken (Off-dry)	9-18 g/L
Feinherb	~15-25 g/L (informal)
Lieblich (Sweet)	18-45 g/L
Süss (Sweet)	>45 g/L

• Source: German Wine Law

Enological Implications

Evidence-Backed Implications

Steep slope viticulture:

• Gradients up to 65° (among steepest globally)
• Manual labor required; mechanization impossible on steepest sites
• Heat accumulation from slate; reflected sunlight from river

Must weight-based quality system:

• Prädikat determined by sugar at harvest, not finished wine sweetness
• Same Spätlese can be dry (Trocken) or sweet
• Consumer confusion possible regarding sweetness

Riesling climate fit:

• Cool climate preserves high acidity
• Long, slow ripening develops aromatics
• Late harvest extends into November for top Prädikate

Operational Observations

Sweetness style decisions:

• Producer chooses fermentation completeness
• Residual sugar balances high acidity
• Dry vs. off-dry vs. sweet from same must

Selective harvesting (Auslese and above):

• Multiple harvest passes required
• Berry-by-berry selection for BA/TBA
• Labor-intensive; weather-dependent

Frequent Compliance Risks

Must Weight Documentation

• Risk: Claiming Prädikat without verified Oechsle level
• Impact: Cannot use Prädikat designation
• Mitigation: Harvest documentation; must analysis

Chaptalisation Violation

• Risk: Adding sugar to Prädikatswein
• Impact: Regulatory violation; loses Prädikat status
• Mitigation: Separate processing streams

VDP Classification Claims

• Risk: Using VDP terms without membership
• Impact: Trademark infringement
• Mitigation: VDP membership verification

Relevant Grape Varieties

• Riesling — primary variety (~60%)
• Pinot Noir — as Spätburgunder (minor)

References

1. German Wine Law (Weingesetz)

   • Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft
   • URL: https://www.deutscheweine.de/

2. VDP.Die Prädikatsweingüter

   • Classification system
   • URL: https://www.vdp.de/

3. Deutsches Weininstitut

   • German Wine Institute
   • URL: https://www.deutscheweine.de/

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Last Updated: January 6, 2026