Location and landscape
Kröv is a wine-growing community on the Moselle in the Mittelmosel area. The municipal territory includes the districts of Kövenig and Mont-Royal. The village is located in a winding section of the Moselle valley, surrounded by vineyards, sunny terraces and steep slate slopes.
Vineyard sites and soils
The vineyard sites of Kröv extend across areas of differing character. The Steffensberg covers around 35 hectares, the Letterlay around 40 hectares and the Kirchlay around 75 hectares. The Paradies reaches as far as the municipal boundary with Kinheim and comprises around 162 hectares. In the Kövenig district are the Herrenberg with around 20 hectares and the Burglay with around 18 hectares on a steep slate wall.
In the steep-slope sites, Devonian slate is documented. In the Letterlay and in the Paradies, heavy clay soils occur in part; in the flat area of the Paradies there is a heavy, clay-rich soil.
Grape varieties and styles of wine
On the slate slopes of the Paradies, Riesling is documented, while Müller-Thurgau is grown in the flat, clay-rich area. The Riesling from the hillside site is described as light, fruity and spicy, while the Müller-Thurgau from the flat area is described as juicy and elegant. The Steffensberg is associated with fresh, fruity, early-drinking and harmonious wines. The Letterlay stands for full-bodied, concentrated wines and, in the steepest sections, for fine, detail-rich Rieslings. The Kirchlay is associated with spicy wines.
The municipality classifies “Kröver Nacktarsch” as a Großlage, which covers the entire municipal territory. In Kröv, hand-detached sparkling wines are also produced.
Historical references
Kröv was first mentioned in 752 in a deed of gift by Pippin the Younger to the Abbey of Echternach. Archaeological finds on the castle hill point to a dense settlement around 500 BC. The municipal history links the introduction of winegrowing on the Moselle with the Romans. Wine from the Herrenberger vineyards was previously supplied as tithing wine; from 1765 onwards, the vineyard holdings of the Grey Sisters of Trier were largely converted to Riesling.
