Location and Classification
Klosterberg is an official single vineyard within the Mosel winegrowing region. It lies in the cadastral area of Wehlen in the municipality of Bernkastel-Kues and, according to the 2024 vineyard register, comprises a planted vineyard area of 16.8 hectares. The Wehlener Klosterberg is located on the left bank of the Mosel in a small side valley, next to Kloster Machern and opposite Zeltingen.
Topography and Soils
The steep slope is predominantly oriented to the south; for part of the site, a south-easterly orientation and altitude of around 210 to 240 metres above sea level are described. The soils consist of stony weathering soils shaped by Devonian slate, with a high iron content. In addition, medium-heavy slate-clay soils with a high proportion of stones are mentioned. A forested upper limit contributes to an even water supply.
History and Cultivation
The name of the vineyard is connected with an earlier convent of nuns, which is thought to have existed since 1084 at the current site of Kloster Machern. In 1856, Carl Hubert Berres, the founder of the C. H. Berres winery, pushed forward the cultivation and clearing of the Wehlener Klosterberg. The site is farmed as steep-slope viticulture; a 2.6-hectare sub-plot was replanted in 2006.
Grape Varieties and Vinification
Riesling and Weißburgunder have been documented from the Wehlener Klosterberg. The wines are described as elegant, fresh, spicy and mineral; Rieslings are also said to be filigree and elegant. For a Riesling, short must-contact time, slow cool spontaneous fermentation, ageing in stainless steel and an extended fine lees ageing period are described. A Weißburgunder was fermented spontaneously after a harvest in October, healthy grape selection and gentle processing, aged in barrique and likewise stored on the lees for longer.
