Location and Landscape
Wintrich is a municipality in the Moselle Valley on the right bank of the Moselle. Here, the valley broadens into a landscape of low bank slopes and former river meanders. The village is located at an altitude of about 140 metres, while the municipality’s high plateaus rise to around 200 to 500 metres.
The Eifel protects Wintrich from westerly winds. Possible föhn effects, limited air exchange and an overall almost Mediterranean climate shape the local climatic conditions. On the high plateaus, underdevonian Hunsrück slate with quartzite and greywacke inclusions predominates.
Viticulture and Vine Growing Sites
Viticulture is documented in the sites Geierslay, Ohligsberg and Stefanslay. With Wintrich, the site Großer Herrgott is also particularly associated. Riesling is found in Geierslay, Großer Herrgott and Ohligsberg; in Großer Herrgott, Rivaner, Kerner as well as Pinot varieties and other red grape varieties are also documented.
The Ohligsberg lies directly on the Moselle, is predominantly west-facing and has 40 to 80 per cent steep slopes. The steepest areas are farmed manually. The site is listed as VDP.GROSSE LAGE® with Riesling as the classified grape variety. Großer Herrgott is associated with fruity, mineral wines from slate soils.
Historical References
According to the municipality’s historical record, Wintrich was first mentioned in a document in the year 960. The large-scale introduction of viticulture is attributed to the Romans. The estate of Geierslay was formerly a monastic holding of the Himmerod Abbey and is first documented for the year 1254.
