Bischöfliche Weingüter : A Traditional Heritage

The steep slopes of the , Saar, and Ruwer are among the best and oldest wine treasures in . Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier feels committed to the preservation and cultivation of this unique cultural landscape. The temperate climate and the diversity of different, mostly slate soils along the three rivers provide ideal growing conditions and have made the from the Mosel region internationally well known.

In 1966, with the merger of the three major wineries – Bischöfliches Konvikt, Bischöfliches Priesterseminar, and Hohe Domkirche – an estate was established that owns prime vineyards: Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier. The 95-hectare area of vines combines numerous internationally renowned vineyards on the Mosel, Saar, and Ruwer under one roof. Amongst the most prominent include on the Mosel, Dhroner Hofberger (4.2 ha) and Piesporter Goldtröpfchen (1.5 ha); on the Saar, Scharzhofberger (6.3 ha), Kanzemer Altenberg (5.9 ha), and Ayler Kupp (10.2 ha); and on the Ruwer, Kaseler Nies’chen (3.1 ha). The abundance of high-quality vineyards allows for all the different facets of Riesling to be produced and makes the Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier a very special and traditional address in the Mosel region.

Bischöfliches Priesterseminar In 1773, Bischöfliches Priesterseminar (Episcopal Seminary) was first founded under the name “Seminarium Clementinum” by Archbishop-Elector Clemens Wenceslaus of . To date, it is still the training center of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trier for priesthood. The vineyards of the Bischöfliches Priesterseminar comprise 34 hectares of land, including sites such as Erdener Treppchen and Trittenheimer Apotheke on the Mosel, Kaseler Nies’chen on the Ruwer, and Ayler Kupp on the Saar.

Hohe Domkirche The history of the Hohe Domkirche, or Cathedral of Trier – the oldest church in Germany and the oldest cathedral north of the Alps – goes back to the beginnings of Christianity. Emperor Constantine, who granted the persecuted Christians religious freedom in the fourth century, erected under Bishop Agritius in the years 310 to 320 the first great basilica in Trier. The building was considered the largest church of the Roman Empire. The history of the cathedral has been closely associated with winegrowing. Documents dating back to 1249 show members of the Archdiocese were freed of their religious duties during the harvest. Hohe Domkirche holds 22 hectares of vines, with 6 hectares in the precious Scharzhofberg in the Saar region. All the grapes that are harvested on the Saar are pressed in the legendary old Scharzhof in Wiltingen.

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Bischöfliches Konvikt In 1806, Bishop Karl Mannay set up in an outbuilding school, which he later called a “little seminary.” Since the original building was insufficient to meet the influx of students, they founded in the early 19th century a private charity that should reflect “on means and ways to study for the church, also for impecunious boys.” This allowed the seminary to take 16 boys on Easter 1840.

Bischöfliches Konvikt (Episcopal Seminary) includes vineyards along all three rivers: Piesporter Goldtröpfchen and Avelsbacher on the Mosel, Ayler Kupp on the Saar, Eitelsbacher Marienholz and Kaseler Kehrnagel on the Ruwer. In Eitelsbach, Duisbuger Hof, owned by Bischöfliches Konvikt, is still used as the press house for all the grapes harvested in the Mosel and Ruwer.

Path to the Future The estate director and oenologist Dr. Karsten Weyand runs Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier since mid-2010 under the motto “less is more.” At the moment, the focus of his work is streamlining and enhancing the quality of the product range and improving the quality of work in the vineyards and cellar. In addition, one of the main goals is therefore to increase the quality of the wines and to show more precisely their typicality.

That the Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier was established from the merger of three legendary wine properties can be immediately seen in the new appearance since the 2011 vintage. Besides the logo – now combining the coat of arms of all three wine estates and visually underscoring the triad of the Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier – all the labels were also revised and are based on a design from 1902. The new labels help customers keep track of the extensive product range and give orientation. The so-called Riesling Pyramid from Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier shows the entire range at a glance and provides guidance on the diversity of wines.

The Wines The complexity of the wines is reflected by nature: rugged landscapes on extremely steep slate slopes, on the one hand; overgrown foliage reliefs and rolling hills, on the other hand. These opposites come into perfect harmony resulting in a delicate Mosel Riesling. Fruity acidity and complex aromas combine to create a culinary delight.

The extensive wine collection – which ranges from the Dom collection, consisting of specific grape varieties, on to the river and village in the classic Mosel Kabinett style, up to wines from the famous single vineyards, such as Scharzhofberger, Dhroner Hofberger, or Kaseler Nies’chen. The Sekt, or sparkling wine, of Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier is produced in the

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traditional method of classic bottle fermentation. These include the Dom Riesling Sekt brut, Ayler Riesling Sekt brut, and Scharzhofberger Sekt brut or brut nature.

The wines are sold both directly from the estate as well as through German distributors. There is also growing demand abroad.

Production The preservation of traditional techniques of sustainable viticulture, and the respect for nature have top priority in the production of our wines. Harvesting is done 80 percent by hand. Joachim Scherf and Klaus Backes share as vineyard managers the responsibility for the extensive vineyard holdings of the Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier. Scherf looks over the vineyards along the Saar, and Backes on the Mosel and Ruwer.

The cellar master Johannes Becker ferments 40 percent of the wines in Fuder, the traditional Mosel 1,000-liter oak casks. The remaining grapes are vinified in stainless-steel tanks. The cellar of the Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier covers 30,000 square meters and can be traced back to the year 600 AD. Running through the oldest part of the cellar is an historic water line from the Romans, which once led, over 1,400 years ago, directly to the nearby Imperial Baths (Kaiserthermen).

About Bischöflichen Weingüter Trier Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier farms 95 hectares of vineyards. It goes back to the merger of three major, centuries-old wine estates and former founding members of today’s VDP Mosel-Saar-Ruwer (Grosser Ring) in 1966: Bischöfliches Konvikt, Bischöfliches Priesterseminar, and Hohe Domkirche. The three estates have many top sites in the Mosel, Saar, and Ruwer. The focus is on almost 90 percent Riesling. The grapes are crushed at Scharzhof in the Saar and at Duisburger Hof in the Ruwer. The wines are subsequently vinified in vaulted cellars in the heart of Trier, dating back to Roman times.

For more information, please visit: www.bischoeflicheweingueter.de

Press Contact Anna Reimann Carolin Strunz Head of Marketing and Sales Press Office Tel.: +49 (0)651 145 760 Tel.: +49 (0)178 55 82 444 [email protected] [email protected]

Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier GbR | Gervasiusstraße 1 | 54290 Trier an der Mosel

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