ladybug98

Hello all - I will have about 2 days in the Mosel region and I need some advice on how to search for a nice wine tasting and/or maybe a vineyard tour. My group of 4 all enjoy wine, especially Riesling, but I would not say we are experts at all. We would just like to add possibly 2 tastings along the way. Something not overly touristy please. Just don't want to leave the area and not experience this, but also don't want it to consume half our day at one tour. Every site I look at lists sooo many places and I have no idea how to choose or what to even look for. I am not particular about where along the river. I am thinking about basing in Cochem (I need to be in Bonn the evening of day 1 and Switzerland after day 2) - I know its more of a touristy city but it seems like an easy drive considering where I need to be - but I am open to other suggestions and hotels if you have any. TYIA for your help

bilboburgler

I'm busy right now but will come back tonight. Look at Urzig.

bilboburgler

Which days and dates are you there?

bilboburgler

Ok, my thoughts (having lead a few wine tastings, holidays and cycling trips down the valley would be this)

Cochem is tourist central, but for wine I would avoid it

If you just want to taste lots of different wines from the area then go here. https://www.bernkastel.de/bernkastel...ookieSupport=1 for a small price you can taste some 160 wines in one setting plus it has a museum upstairs

Nearly every wine town has a link to tourist information and most run a "meet the winemaker" thing. Once a month they meet you in the vinyard, show you around and invite you in for a tasting.

Other than that lets look at just one town Urzig. The U has two little dots over it and for the web that becomes https://www.uerzig.de and that works for just about every town.

https://www.uerzig.de/wein-tourismus...ter-in-uerzig/ shows you the wineries

Rebenhof Riesling Manufaktur is about the best tour but email ahead to ensure you get an English speaker (if required). Urzig has the Wurtz Garten (spice garden) which is a good walk up the hill. I might do the walk before the tasting as it all makes sense if you understand the geology.

I've stayed in a few of the hotels etc but this is pretty good Weingut Derkum. Don't book any hotels on top of the cliff which is a long hike from most of the restaurants vertically though it appears only a short distance horizontally. I've not stayed here but the guy is pleasant to talk to and, good English and will talk about his wines until the cows come home, Weingut C. H. Berres and the rooms look good.

hetismij2

Where are you staying along the Mosel? And when?

bilboburgler

Heti, they want to stay in Cochem.

There are more interesting wine places to stay near Bonn if interested

ladybug98

HI i will be there july 12- 14. Thank you so much for this information. I had found that place where you can taste 160 wines at one time, however its not about tasting as many wines as possible and more about the experience.

Rebenhof Riesling Manufaktur seems very ..... clinical?? from the website. It could be deceiving, i was expecting more of a small family feel and that looked very much like a store. Are there others you recommend even for just tastings? leaning Auslese if that matters at all. Thank you so much!

ladybug98

HI am arriving July 12 -14 and I really can stay anywhere. I do have to go to Bonn one evening so I'd prefer not to be too long a drive since i will be returning to the region around 11:30pm - lets say an hour or so from Bonn. Thank you

hetismij2

This site has a selection of vineyards offering tastings: https://www.mosel-inside.de/en/mosel/wine-tasting.html

Haven't been to the Mosel to stay for a long while now, last time was in the campervan and we gave up and went up to the Eifel instead. Before that we stayed in Beilstein at what was once a Fodor's favourite : https://hotel-haus-lipmann.com/index.html

I hope you find a vineyard that suits you.

ladybug98

Thank you for your help. Thats the website that is a bit overwhelming - so many choices and how do you know what to choose? I've been to tastings where they just give you a few glasses and send you on your way and others that are actual quite informative. There also is no way to tell if its a small, family feel who really enjoys talking about their wines and sharing them or a tasting set up for tourists - hence my search for help!

bilboburgler

In terms of clinical, you do understand this is Germany and German wines to paraphrase a specialist in the area "are made in the laboratory not the vinyard" while this is a hard comment I have seen a disgusting mess of rotten grapes go into wineries and come out as lovely white wine in this country.

Just about everyone of the wineries in Urzig will offer you a tasting, from a knock on the door to a full layout. I would be amazed if they did not have an Auslese and above in most of the wineries noted but I find the one I recommend as being about the best for the overall experience. They even do evening tastings with FlammKuchen

Rebenhof Riesling Manufaktur is just very modern and has invested a lot of money. I've tasted in CH Berres and that is more family like and I've tasted in others that are so family like you are tasting next to grandma that I would not recommend. Looking at the list I would also recommend Derkum, Benedict Loosen,

Berres (no CH) has a good name and Riesling-Traditionsweingut Karl Schwaab but I've not tasted

Dr Loosen has his HQ just along the road east but you might need an introduction from a wine shipper, his range is enormous.

Given the shape of the vinyard the consistency of this village is pretty special and when you add the highly complicated soil structure on the north side of the river this is a worthwhile town to visit.

bilboburgler

Another special winery area is Trier. The vinyard is placed away from the Mosel and in a suburb and this guy https://www.oechsle-weinhaus.de/de/weingut/peter-terges is amazing. But I haven't spoken to him since pre-covid and he may not have survived. But if sweet wines are your thing then this guy is one of the kings of europe.

I would not stay in Cochem it is just a bit depressing, though many tourists enjoy it, there are so many lovely little places why go to the big one.

I note that 12 14 July is mid week, look out in the villages for the temporary bars (they have witches broom stuck outside them) local food, limited range of home cooked products but a bit special

ladybug98

You have been so helpful. I am intrigued by the temporary bars and will keep my eyes peeled for sure! I am not sold on Cochem - i just feel lower than that will be a tough ride for me back from Bonn that one night. I will look elsewhere and value your help and opinion

lavandula

The temporary bars are called Besenwirtschaften or Strausswirtschaften (broom inns). They are in all the wine regions, not just here. You will see them by just driving past, and often there are blackboards out the front. In that area you will get roter Rauscher, the new red wine, in massive glass urns. It is pink and cloudy. I am not sure about the Mosel but along the Rhine the Besenwirtschaften often have food to go with the wine, so it doesn't go to your head so quickly (usually Zwiebelkuchen), and in some areas this has evolved to restaurants. Less chance of this if it's just out of someone's garage, which I have seen before.

Lavandula

bilboburgler

Absolutely with food. In some towns a different family runs the bar for different fortnights and they sell sausage made during the winter, the family onion tart etc plus maybe a couple of other dishes. Limited but special with a strong focus on matching wine with food.