Location
Longen is a municipality on the Roman Wine Route of the Mosel. The settlement lies directly below the vineyard site of Zellerberg and at the foot of Mehringer Berg, which reaches around 416 metres above sea level.
Zellerberg vineyard site
The Zellerberg extends around Mehring, Lörsch and Longen. The slopes rising from the Mosel bank reach, in places, more than 50 per cent gradient, are oriented south-south-west and receive intensive sunlight. The soils consist of clay slate; their iron content gives them in part a slightly reddish colouring.
Wine-law classification
In the official vineyard sites register, Zellerberg is entered as a single vineyard site under number 410811 in the Mosel growing region, in the Bernkastel area and as part of the Großlage Sankt Michael. For the portion belonging to Longen, 16.3 hectares of planted vineyard area are recorded. The single vineyard site also includes portions of the cadastral districts of Mehring and Lörsch.
History and local culture
Longen is documented in 770 in connection with the possessions of the Abbey of Echternach under the name “Longun”. In 830, the place came to the Abbey of Prüm; in 1343 it was sold to Archbishop Balduin of Trier. In the Zellerberg lies the historic Höpperbur well, whose wine and well are associated with the annual local wine festival.
