Winemaking

The Riesling Grape

Riesling is the most important grape variety on the Mosel. It has 3 dimensions that no other white wine grape has:

  • Quality - from drinkable to absolute world class

  • Residual sweetness - many white wines no longer have this, you can drink Riesling completely dry and extremely sweet up to TBA, these are wines that kings have claimed for themselves

  • The combination of the vineyard and the winemaker's craftsmanship produces top world-renown wines of world

  • Age, ageability - you can taste Riesling when it is 1 or 20 years old. Great Rieslings are even designed to be aged for 50 to 100 years if they are stored well.  

Terroir

The perfect harmony of slate, sun, and vines creates an unmistakable mineral taste experience found only in Mosel Riesling. This distinct flavor, celebrated by wine connoisseurs worldwide. As Riesling experts, we are committed to crafting wines that showcase this unique character. Sun exposure turning from south-west to south, but the soil structure is also different. We see the slate rock, so the soil looks underground everywhere, and it is soft, porous, and has small gaps everywhere where the roots can dig deep, where the minerals come from, where the water comes from, so that even in the hot summer when we have no rain for weeks, there is always enough water left.The roots of the vines penetrate deep into the slate soil, imparting a signature slate essence you can taste in every sip. Explore the unparalleled flavor of our Mosel Riesling and experience the pure expression of nature's finest elements.

Climate

The Mosel "dream river" originates in France in the Vosges and then flows through France, across the border between Luxembourg and Germany, and flows into the Rhine at Koblenz, 546 KM long with 8800 hectares of predominantly Riesling vineyards. The Mosel river has a beneficial effect as it stores heat and helps create a micro-climate. By September, the air starts to become cooler, particularly at night. However, the Mosel river stores heat and the temperature contrast creates some fog, which only clears away as the day warms up. This fog is a characteristic of the Mosel.

Hand-picked

At Slate Estate, we uphold centuries-old winemaking traditions that are as vibrant today as ever. Nestled on the steep slopes of the Mosel, the vineyards are a testament to the seamless blend of culture, tradition, and nature. The steeper the slope, the greater the challenge—but this hard work is rewarded with Rieslings of unparalleled complexity and longevity. Slate Estate is committed to crafting elegant and distinctive Rieslings in perfect harmony with nature. The grapes are meticulously handpicked and selected from the finest vineyards along the middle Mosel, ensuring each bottle reflects our dedication to quality and authenticity. Experience the captivating character of our wines and taste the legacy of the storied vineyards.