Rosenlay

Rosenlay, also Lieserer Rosenlay, is an officially registered single-vineyard site in Lieser on the Mosel, in the Bernkastel area. In the register of vineyard sites, it is listed under code 410343 with a planted area of 16.5 hectares (as of the 2024 harvest). The name is already recorded on a historical wine-growing map of the Mosel from 1906.

Along the Mosel, Rosenlay forms a steep south-facing slope that turns into a west-facing slope towards Maring. The site also includes flatter areas and is described by a winemaker from Lieser as the smallest vineyard site in the town. Its soil is considered the lightest among the sites documented there. The open exposure to westerly winds and the characteristics of the soil and location allow for comparatively rapid drying, which is considered advantageous in damp years.

Rosenlay is planted almost exclusively with Riesling, as the soil is considered unsuitable for red grape varieties. Dry Riesling Kabinett and Spätlese wines are documented, as well as a sweet Riesling Kabinett and a historical Kerner Beerenauslese from 1993. The wines are described as lighter and more delicate than those from Lieser’s Niederberg site.

For a winery producing Rosenlay, manual harvesting, intensive work in the vineyards, early yield reduction, the omission of chemical mineral fertilisers, and natural sward establishment are documented. A Riesling Kabinett from the 2022 vintage was fermented spontaneously and matured in stainless steel.