Mönchhof Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett Feinherb Off Dry

Mönchhof Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett Feinherb is made in the Mosel wine-growing region of Germany. Located in far western Germany, the Mosel Valley’s steep, south-facing slopes create the perfect climate for Riesling, giving the vines ideal exposure to the sun. The cool climate allows the grapes to ripen slowly while retaining bright acidity.

Weingut Mönchhof History

Weingut Mönchhof is one of the oldest wineries in the Mosel Valley. The name translates as “Monks House or Monks Court” and it used to be owned by the Cistercian Abbey at Himmerod. There is documentation of vineyards in and around the village of Urzig dating back to 1177. After the secularisation of the French Revolution, the Eymael family purchased the estate from Napoleon at auction in Paris in 1804.

The last member of the Eymael family, the sixth generation, who did not have an heir, sold the winery to a wine-loving group of investors in 2016. Today, the winery is managed by winemaker Philippe Conzen, along with Volker Berres, vineyard manager, and cellar worker Remigius Schetter, who have both been working in the winery since the 1980s. They continue to produce superb Riesling.

Vineyards

The estate’s vineyards are located at the very steep Ürzig Würzgarten and the Erden Treppchen vineyards. The company has a good holding in one of the most prized jewels in the Mosel valley, the Erden Prälat vineyard. The vineyards are all 100% Riesling, on original rootstock, many up to 120 years old; no other grape varieties are grown.

Erdener Treppchen Vineyard

Erdener Treppchen means “The Little Staircase of Erden”. Long ago, stone steps were built into this vineyard’s steep hillside to help workers reach the vines. The vineyard is located just over one mile down the river from the winery.

The vineyard has a western orientation with a lack of protective slate cliffs which means that it has a relatively cool micro-climate. This, combined with the blue slate soils, tends to produce delicate wines with subtle aromatics and a racy acidity.

The 40-50-year-old vines are VSP trained, which allows easy canopy
management on the steep gradient, and some are still on their original European rootstocks. Summer leaf removal allows for good air circulation and slows down photosynthesis, resulting in a later harvest producing berries with less sugar, less alcohol and good aromatic maturity.

Mönchhof Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett Feinherb Winemaking

• 100% Riesling grapes are hand-harvested
• The fruit is crushed, pressed, and clarified by sedimentation.
• The must is pumped into 1,000-litre stainless steel tanks.
• Cold fermentation with selected yeasts for 30 days.
• Fermentation is stopped early to achieve the Feinherb (off-dry) style.
• Aged for five months in stainless steel tanks.
• Gently filtered before bottling.
• Suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

Buy now at Fareham Wine Cellar.