Location and Landscape
Irsch is a local municipality in the Trier-Saarburg district in Rhineland-Palatinate. The place lies between Saarburg and Ockfen in the former Saar valley and belongs to the natural region of Irsch-Wiltinger Hunsrück edge. Its steep slopes connect the low-lying areas of the Saar valley with the Hunsrück.
Vine Growing on the Saar
Irsch is a wine-growing community in the Mosel wine-growing region and in the wine-growing area of the Saar. The officially delimited single vineyard Sonnenberg lies within the Irsch cadastral area; in addition, the Martiner Hofberg is designated there. The vineyards of the region consist mainly of steep slate slopes. On these slopes, high levels of sunshine provide favourable conditions, while cultivation is labour-intensive and often requires hand-harvesting.
History of Viticulture
Irsch was first mentioned as Eweson between 957 and 960; the current spelling Irsch has been documented since 1695. In 1787, the municipality was granted permission to clear part of the Rothecke and cultivate wine there. The winegrowers’ association was founded on 7 November 1897. In the years 1901 and 1902, the Cloeren estate planted 38,000 Riesling vines on the Irsch hillside of the Hubertusberg.
Grape Varieties and Wine Profile
During the Thirty Years’ War, Kleinberger in Irsch was considered the preferred grape variety. From the 18th century onwards, Riesling gradually displaced this variety and was predominant in the Irsch wine-growing area at the beginning of the 20th century. The Mosel wine-growing area produces dry, semi-dry, noble-sweet and sparkling wines. In addition, Irsch is one of the municipalities whose delimited vineyards may produce wine bearing the protected geographical indication Landwein der Saar.
