Location and Landscape
Niederfell is a local municipality in the district of Mayen-Koblenz in Rhineland-Palatinate and belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde Rhein-Mosel. The town is situated on the right bank of the Moselle behind the riverside road on gently rising terrain. From the outlying centre of Kühr, vineyards stretch upstream and rise on the south slope of the Dieblicher Berg in the side valley of the Aspelbach. The valley extends into the interior of the country towards the Hunsrück and shapes the landscape of the Niederfeller Schweiz.
History
In a document from the Trier Archbishop Poppo dating from 1030, Niederfell is referred to as “Velle”; it points to an older document from 980. The municipality therefore dates its existence back to this year. Settlement during Roman times is considered likely, but is only evidenced by a few archaeological finds. Preserved half-timbered houses point to the town’s historical association with Kurtrier.
Viticulture
Niederfell belongs to the Burg Cochem wine-growing area in the Qualitätsweinbaugebiet Mosel. The municipality states that there are two local winegrowing businesses and 15 hectares of planted vineyard area. According to the figure given for 2007, around 90 percent of production went to white grape varieties; Riesling is the most important grape variety. Weißburgunder, Kerner, Blauer Spätburgunder and Regent are also documented. The local wine sites include, among others, Niederfeller Fächern, Niederfeller Goldlay and Niederfeller Kahllay. The element “Lay” in the name Goldlay stands for slate.
