Mosel
Mosel
Mosel, Germany's most famous wine region, is an area of two distinct halves. On the flatter, fertile land large commercial producers churn out litre after litre of indistinct table wine, made from neutral, uninspiring varieties. The other, much more exciting half of the Mosel are the precipitously steep slopes that tower above the regions' rivers, where growers craft intensely flavoured Riesling grapes that will help make some of the world's finest wine. Due to the cold climate, the steep slopes are critical for giving the vines the sunlight they need to ripen, and only those with a south or south-easterly aspect will be used to produce quality grapes. The steep slopes are a no-go for machinery, so all the grapes are tediously hand-harvested, and the pickers get an excellent workout moving up and down the hillsides. The lean, pure Riesling that results from their efforts, with its charming floral character and delicate balance, must make it all feel worth it.
