Location and Classification
Held is a registered single vineyard in the municipality of Pölich within the Großlage of Sankt Michael in the Bernkastel area. It belongs to Mosel and is also known locally as Pölicher Held. The site comprises two areas on opposite banks of the Mosel. The vineyard register lists for the cadastral district of Pölich the vineyard number 410812 and 94.0 hectares of planted vineyard area.
Topography and Soils
The vineyards are oriented from south to east and show slopes of around 10 to 45 percent. Part of Pölicher Held lies on the opposite bank of the Mosel above the former Mosel railway line. The soils consist of shallow to medium-deep weathered slate; at the foot of the slope, clayey sand over gravel occurs locally. The opposite area is characterised by clay slate and lies in the geological setting of Devonian slate of the Rhenish Slate Mountains.
Vines and Wines
Riesling is the most important documented grape variety of the site. In individual producer plots, it is grown with a proportion of almost 100 percent. Some plots have ungrafted vines that are more than 80 years old. From the old vine areas both dry and fruity-sweet wines are produced. Processing is carried out gently; the wines are then fermented and matured in traditional Fuder barrels or in stainless-steel tanks.
Historical Reference
Winegrowing in Pölich has been documented since the second half of the 12th century. Near the foot of the steep west-facing slope Pölicher Held, a possible Roman press site is located. At the turn of the 20th century, winegrowing on the opposite bank of the Mosel was greatly expanded; before a bridge was built or a ferry established, equipment for cultivation had to be transported with boats.
