When we met in the Mosel Valley last month we came together for the 3rd Annual #Winelover Riesling Marathon. Indeed, our event, just happened to coincide with the Mythos Mosel held May 26-27, 2018. Besides getting to know Mosel's wines what is so special about a #winelover gathering is the opportunity to connect with friends around the world.
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| #Winelovers, Mosel Valley 2018 © Spaswinefood |
#Winelovers from Germany, Greece, France, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, and United States came together to share their passion to learn more about Riesling. This event definitely put Riesling on the front burner for me. Besides getting to know the many wonderful expressions of Mosel Riesling, it was such a pleasure to connect with a community which shares a passion for learning.
Riesling Marathon Kickoff
Upon arrival at Staffelter Hof, Kröv there was a sparkling Riesling to welcome us. Then we were off to the vineyards. Our very first stop was the Staffelter Hof Vineyard. From the Staffelter Hof Vineyard, high on the bank of the Mosel Valley, you see vineyards, stretching for miles, along both sides of the Mosel River. It is here in the Mosel Valley, one of Germany's most beautiful river valleys, some of the best Riesling in the world is grown.
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| The Beautiful Mosel Valley © Spaswinefood |
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| Staffelter Hof Vineyard, Mosel Valley © Spaswinefood |
From the vineyard there were stunning views in all directions.
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| Looking Left, Staffelter Hof Vineyard © Spaswinefood |
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| Looking Right, Staffelter Hof Vineyard © Spaswinefood |
Our vineyard visit was followed by a BBQ and a BYOB at Staffelter Hof guesthouse.
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| #Winelover Moments, Mosel Valley © Spaswinefood |
That evening over food and wine, we began those wine conversations that lasted well into the night.
The Land of Riesling
Next day, we traveled the Mosel River via riverboat, and the second day we hopped on and off the bus, exploring Mosel Riesling. There were thirty wine tasting locations, which hosted 120 wineries from other parts of the Mosel. Over the two day period we visited as many locations as possible, tasting Riesling wines of different styles from different sites, and terroirs. Wine-tasting is popular here, with the Mosel Valley hosting wine festivals spring through fall. I will write about the wines later however, for now coming along with me, as we begin to explore the Mosel.
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| Romantica, Mosel Valley © Spaswinefood |
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| Off to Visit the Mosel Valley © Spaswinefood |
As we set out from Kröv the first day on the riverboat, Romantica we travelled along the Mosel, passing vineyards along the riverbank. We passed vineyards with signs, like Kinheimer Rosenburg, posted among the vines.
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| Kinheimer Rosenberg © Spaswinefood |
Further along we passed a Losnicher Forsterlay sign.
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| Losnicher Forsterlay © Spaswinefood |
The vineyard landscape continued to amaze me. We passed a vineyard with a stunning rock outcrop.
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| Vineyard Landscape, Mosel Valley © Spaswinefood |
We passed picturesque towns along the riverbank.
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| Towns along the Mosel © Spaswinefood |
Besides steep walled vineyards there are castles along the riverbank.
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| The Land of Castles and Vineyards © Spaswinefood |
The Mosel Valley is home to a number of stunning castles. Before arriving in Kröv my friend and I visited Eltz Castle (Burg Eltz), a medieval castle. This castle is perched high above the Mosel Valley. The castle is still owned by descendants from the same family that built it in the 12th century.
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Eltz Castle © Spaswinefood
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As we travelled along the Mosel River we saw postcard like towns, for which the region is known.
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| Towns along the Mosel © Spaswinefood |
Our first stop after we travelled along the Mosel from Kröv was in Bernkastel-Kues, a well-known wine growing area in the Middle Mosel. The wines produced from these vineyards, with steep, slate-rich slopes above Bernkastel, are regarded as amongst the best. It is here we began our Riesling explorations.
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| Let the Mythos Mosel Begin © Spaswinefood |
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| Off to Explore Mythos Mosel © Spaswinefood |
Our first Mythos Mosel tasting was located in a stunning setting on a hill.
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| First Wine Tasting Stop, Bernkastel-Kues © Spaswinefood |
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| Arriving for a Bernkastel-Kues Wine Tasting © Spaswinefood |
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| Time for Bernkastel-Kues Wine © Spaswinefood |
Even though we arrived early at the first tasting, the room was filled. I did manage to taste a few wines offered to me.
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| Bernkastel-Kues Wines © Spaswinefood |
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| A Closer Look, Bernkastel-Kues Wines © Spaswinefood |
Given that the tasting room was crowded our visit was brief. We hopped on a bus, and were off to our next stop. After all, we had come to taste Riesling wines. We were not disappointed.
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| Mythos Mosel Explorations © Spaswinefood |
Day's End
Our final stop on the first day of wine tasting was at Dr. Loosen. It was a spectacular evening with wine and food.
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| Arriving at Dr Loosen © Spaswinefood |
The evening was the perfect opportunity to explore wines in a beautiful setting.
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| A Mythos Mosel Evening © Spaswinefood |
Darkness arrived late on this late spring day. All too soon it was time to return the guesthouse, to rest for another day in Mosel Valley Wine Country.
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| Memories of a Dr Loosen Evening © Spaswinefood |
Mosel, home to beautiful vineyards, postcard like towns, and castles make wine travels in the land of Riesling, the very stuff that memories are made of, indeed. I would like to thank Jan Matthias Klein for hosting and organizing this #winelover event. I invite you to join me in my travels in the Mosel Valley, Germany and elsewhere at Spaswinefood.
Sharon
Mosel Valley, Germany
May 2018
© Spaswinefood
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| Mythos Mosel © Spaswinefood |
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