Location and landscape
Wittlich lies in the Wittlich hollow in the Lieser valley. The Lieser flows into the Moselle; at the same time, the town links the Eifel and Moselle regions. The cultivation of wine benefits from the climate of the Wittlich hollow. Documented vineyards are on steep slopes facing south and south-west in the Lieser valley.
Soils and winegrowing
The vineyard soils are characterised by slate, which on the southern slopes is described as a warm-storage slate soil. Among the documented Wittlich sites are, among others, Portnersberg and Klosterweg. In winegrowing, leafy work is carried out in summer, additional thinning in August, and early vine pruning that reduces yields are used. Own organic compost is used; insecticides are completely avoided.
Grape varieties and wine styles
For Wittlich's vineyard areas, Riesling, Weißburgunder, Kerner, Grauburgunder, Spätburgunder, Gewürztraminer, Merlot, Regent and Dornfelder are documented. The wines range from dry to delicately sweet. In addition to dry Auslesen and semi-dry and sweet Kabinett wines made from Riesling, the documentation includes Auslese, ice wine, Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese. Red wines from Spätburgunder and Merlot ripen in wooden barrels for up to 24 months in parts.
History of winegrowing
The first documented mention of winegrowing in Wittlich dates from 1065. At the turn of the 20th century, winegrowing developed again with a focus on quality; this was accompanied by the settlement of winemaking families from the Middle Moselle. A Wittlich Portnersberg Auslese of the 1921 vintage was auctioned in Trier in 1922.
