Location and landscape
Traben-Trarbach is a wine town on the Moselle, consisting of two districts on opposite banks of the river. Vineyards and forest surround the town and extend amphitheatre-style along the Moselle valley. Steep vineyard sites are also located in and around Traben-Trarbach.
Viticulture on the Moselle
The slopes of the vineyards are described as slate slopes rich in minerals that store heat. This characteristic is linked in the region to the cultivation of vines. Viticulture in the Traben-Trarbach area can be traced back about 2,000 years to Roman times.
Riesling and wine profile
Riesling is the most important grape variety for the wine-growing region named for Traben-Trarbach. The Riesling described locally ripens late and produces fine-fruited, piquant and elegant wines.
Wine trade and cellar facilities
Around 1900, Traben-Trarbach was a major European wine-trading centre and was placed, in a historical description of the town, alongside Bordeaux. The wine trade included more than 100 wine businesses and exports to the United Kingdom, Russia and other markets.
In the second half of the 19th century, extensive wine cellars were created beneath large parts of the city centre. Some of the multi-storey facilities are more than 100 metres long and are connected with the storage of wine, cellar technology and the wine trade.
