Location and terrace landscape
Winningen lies on the Lower Moselle on the left bank of the river at around 79 metres above sea level, near Koblenz in the lower Moselle valley, also known as the Terrace Moselle. The sheltered valley location and the steep vineyard slopes create favourable conditions for winegrowing. Slate terraces store the sun’s warmth and release it again after sunset.
The vineyards extend across narrow, steep terraces. In the sites Uhlen, Hamm, Röttgen and Brückstück, up to 29 terraces lie on top of one another. Around 30 kilometres of dry-stone walls shape the landscape and, as historic monuments, are protected.
Vineyard sites and soils
At Hamm, the Moselle forms a pronounced river bend; Hamm and Uhlen count among the similarly steep sites. Brückstück has Devonian slate, pumice deposits connected with the eruption of the Laacher See, as well as basalt. In the Domgarten, quartzite, loess, pumice and sandy slate come together.
Hamm is characterised by fine-leaved, clay-rich slate, while Röttgen has a thin covering of sandy slate with quartzite veins and incorporated loess. As a result of different slate formations, Uhlen is divided into Blaufüsser Lay, Laubach and Roth Lay.
Grape variety and wine character
Riesling is the preferred grape variety of the Terrace Moselle and the most important grape variety in the steep, Winningen vineyards. The municipality describes Brückstück wines as having clear fruit and harmonious minerality, Hamm as vibrant, spirited Rieslings, and Domgarten as full-bodied, powerful estate wines. Röttgen stands for fine, elegant wines, Uhlen for mineral and aromatically diverse wines.
The intensive work in the steep sites includes the upkeep of dry-stone walls, steps and terraces. For the site Uhlen, only Riesling is permitted, at least 7,000 vines per hectare, and an yield limit of 70 hectolitres per cadastral hectare. Traditional vinification as well as dry, fine-boned or noble-sweet flavour profiles are planned.
Historical background
An excavated Roman villa shows that winegrowing in Winningen dates back to the 4th century. The place was first mentioned in documents in 871, when King Louis II confirmed a gift of vineyards. In the Middle Ages, vineyards belonged, among others, to the cathedral chapters of Aachen and Cologne as well as to other monasteries and religious institutions.
Around 1330, basalt was quarried at the present site of the Brückstück site for the construction of the Balduin Bridge in Koblenz.
