Location and landscape
Cochem lies in the Moselle Valley within the landscape unit known as Cochemer Krampen in the Rhenish Slate Mountains. The town covers an area of 21.2 square kilometres; the municipal centre lies at an altitude of about 83 metres. Here, the Moselle forms a narrow, V-shaped valley with pronounced meanders, steep outer bends and gently rising inner bends.
Vine cultivation in the terraced Moselle
The Cochem Moselle valley area is considered a warm-favoured narrow mid-valley of the Moselle. Cochem belongs to the wine-growing region of the Moselle and to the Burg Cochem area of the terraced Moselle. The steep, sun-exposed vineyard sites are characterised by slate and slate-containing soils; historic terraces were often created using dry stone walls.
Riesling is the most important grape variety of the Moselle and also grows in the steep slate vineyards of Cochem. The wines are described as delicately fruity and have fruity as well as mineral notes. Vine cultivation on the sun-exposed slopes of the Cochem Moselle valley dates back to Roman times.
History
Cochem was first mentioned in written records in the year 866. Town rights are documented for the year 1332.
