Location on the Moselle
Graach is a wine-growing municipality on the Middle Moselle, around two kilometres downstream from Bernkastel. The municipality belongs to the wine region Mosel. Around 90 per cent of the vineyard area lies on steep slopes, and around 95 per cent is planted with Riesling.
Vineyard sites and classification
In the official vineyard sites directory for 2024, Graach is assigned to the Mosel growing area, the Bernkastel area and the Großlage Münzlay. As single vineyard sites within the cadastral area, Abtsberg, Domprobst, Himmelreich and Josephshöfer are listed. For Abtsberg, 1.9 hectares are recorded, for Domprobst 17.5 hectares and for Himmelreich 58.4 hectares.
Steep slopes and soils
The Graacher Himmelreich lies at approximately 110 to 260 metres above sea level and has slope inclines of around 45 to 65 per cent. The site facing the Moselle is sheltered from wind by the valley; the reflecting water surface and its heat-storing capacity have a balancing effect on the risk of frost. The soil consists of slightly warming blue and grey slate. The south-facing Josephshöfer extends from about 110 to 165 metres above sea level with a slope gradient of 44 per cent. Its deep, weathered Devon slate soils have good water-retention capacity. In Himmelreich, vines are still cultivated in parts using traditional single-post training.
History and wine styles
Graach was first mentioned in the year 975 as “Gracha”. The estate mentioned at the time is considered a precursor to today’s Josephshof; the municipality describes a wine-growing tradition of almost 2,000 years. The name Josephshöfer goes back to the former monastic estate and the present-day settlement Josephshof; as a vineyard site, the area around 1100 is documented as a monastic vineyard. For the Riesling from Graach, dry VDP.GROSSE-GEWÄCHS wines and fruity-sweet Prädikat wines from Josephshöfer are documented. Wines from Domprobst are described as spicy and wild, and wines from Himmelreich as fruitier and more approachable.
