Viticultural place on the Moselle
Trittenheim is a wine-growing village on a distinctive bend of the Moselle. The vineyards stretch out on both sides of the river and belong to the quality wine-growing region Mosel, in the area of Bernkastel.
Vineyard sites and landscape
The documented Trittenheim vineyard sites include Altärchen, Apotheke, Felsenkopf and Leiterchen. The Apotheke lies west- to south-west-facing, covers areas on the Trittenheim side, as well as the largest part of the steep slope opposite, and rises to about 200 metres with gradients of up to 35 degrees. The Felsenkopf is located below the Laurentiuskapelle towards Leiwen, while the Leiterchen is to the left of the ferry rock.
Slate and wine character
The soils are characterised by grey-blue Moselle slate in different stages of weathering. They are usually shallow-rooting and offer good water supply. In the Apotheke, grey and blue slate occur with water-bearing fissures; the slate stores heat and carries mineral material into the surrounding area of the vineyards. During the day, the river reflects sunlight and brings cooler air into the vineyards at night.
For the Trittenheim Apotheke, fruit-forward, juicy and finely textured wines with slate-influenced minerality and a subtle acidity are documented. They can be full-bodied, lively and long-lasting; even Beerenauslesen are attested for the site. Riesling is explicitly mentioned in the Trittenheim vineyard records.
History of winegrowing
A document from the Abbey of Prüm, according to the local chronicle, shows that winegrowing in Trittenheim dates back to the 9th century. The name Altärchen refers to vineyards that were previously assigned as a benefice to a priest of the parish church. The term Apotheke is documented as a vineyard-site name of the 20th century and is associated with the terms Abteiberg or Abtsberg, as well as with earlier church property. After the changes to German wine law of 1971, the Apotheke was made the officially leading vineyard site of Trittenheim.
