Wine-growing area on the Middle Mosel
Enkirch is a wine-growing village on the Middle Mosel. The municipal area belongs to the natural landscape of the Middle Mosel in the Moselle slate mountain range, shaped by the Hunsrück and the Eifel.
History of winegrowing
The first documentary mention dates from 1 April 733 under the name Anchiriacum; in 908 the place was called Ancaracha. Since the 11th century Enkirch belonged to the County of Sponheim and in 1248 was granted town and market rights as well as its own jurisdiction. 15 former ecclesiastical and comital wine estates show the early importance of the location as a wine-growing site.
Steep slopes and slate
The Steffensberg is a 70-hectare vineyard site completely oriented to the south, with gradients of up to around 70 per cent. The south-facing orientation promotes sunlight exposure and the warming of the soil. The Herrenberg lies south of Enkirch and has pure Devonian slate. The adjoining Zeppwingert is very dry and also reaches slope inclines of around 70 per cent. In the Ellergrub wet hollows and dry terraces alternate; the slopes there reach about 75 per cent. The south-facing Monteneubel is described as a site with good soil moisture.
Wine-culture heritage
The steep vineyards and terraces have for many centuries been cultivated mainly with Riesling. The Steffensberg is planted above all with Riesling and is associated with delicate, fine-fruited wines. The Zeppwingert is emblematic of finely dry wines in the characteristic Mosel style, while the Ellergrub is suitable for dry wines. Historic wine cellars, cut into slate rock, belong to the wine landscape and are used for ripening. The annual cycle of the vineyard year includes vine pruning, tying up, training the shoots up and grape harvest.
