Field of Tension: Mosel-Saar-Ruwer wine series
Photo: Marko Seifert
There are plenty of things you could accuse the Mosel – or, more correctly, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer – of as a wine region, but a lack of character isn’t one of them. Quite the opposite, in fact: this is one of the most fiercely idiosyncratic wine regions anywhere. Slate upon slate, impossibly steep slopes, sparse soils. All of this makes for a complex minerality and a wonderful antidote to the bland “Pinot-grigiofication” of mainstream wine.
And then, of course, there’s Riesling. It’s Germany’s most ubiquitous grape, but here, along the Mosel, Saar and Ruwer, it comes with a distinctive aromatic character that is unlike anything else. Which is as true of the old, tradition-laden Mosel Rieslings as it is of the fresh natural wines that have emerged from the region in recent years.
Billy himself has spent more time in the Mosel than in almost any other wine region; back in 2014, he even created the “Munchies Guide to Mosel” together with Vice. What continues to fascinate him about the region is precisely this combination of authenticity, stubborn individuality, and extraordinary ageing potential – wines that gain a startling depth and complexity over the decades.
With our new Mosel series, though, we don’t just want to sit around the big table and drink great wines. We also want to draw attention to a reality that remains surprisingly invisible outside the wine world. Traditional steep-slope viticulture along the Mosel is under enormous pressure. While vineyards on flat land are often calculated with 300 to 400 working hours per hectare, the steep slate slopes of the Mosel easily require 2,000 hours or more. Almost everything is done by hand, yet production costs and minimum wages continue to rise, while many consumers still expect prices that are barely compatible with this kind of labour-intensive agriculture.
Which is precisely why we want to celebrate the region: through winemakers and wines that show just how much character, dedication, precision, and history exist along the Mosel.
The first event will take place on Friday, November 27, 2026, with Jonas Dostert (Weinbau Jonas Dostert, Upper Mosel) and Kaja Khov (Racines Rebelles, Luxembourg).
The following winemakers have confirmed so far, with dates to be announced at a later stage:
Julien Renard, Weinbau Julien Renard, Winningen, Mosel
Johannes Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch, Pünderich, Mosel
Gernot Kollmann, Weingut Immich-Batterieberg, Enkirch, Mosel
Martin & Jonas Müllen, Weingut Martin Müllen, Traben-Trarbach, Mosel
Rudolf “Rudi” Trossen, Weingut Rita & Rudolf Trossen, Kinheim-Kindel, Mosel
Dr. Katharina Prüm, Weingut Joh. Jos. Prüm, Wehlen, Mosel
Ernst “Ernie” Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel
Johannes Weber, Weingut Hofgut Falkenstein, Konz-Niedermennig, Saar
Isabelle Müller, Weingut Egon Müller-Scharzhof, Wiltingen, Saar
More to follow.
Field of Tension: Mosel-Saar-Ruwer wine series
Photo: Marko Seifert
And then, of course, there’s Riesling. It’s Germany’s most ubiquitous grape, but here, along the Mosel, Saar and Ruwer, it comes with a distinctive aromatic character that is unlike anything else. Which is as true of the old, tradition-laden Mosel Rieslings as it is of the fresh natural wines that have emerged from the region in recent years.
Billy himself has spent more time in the Mosel than in almost any other wine region; back in 2014, he even created the “Munchies Guide to Mosel” together with Vice. What continues to fascinate him about the region is precisely this combination of authenticity, stubborn individuality, and extraordinary ageing potential – wines that gain a startling depth and complexity over the decades.
With our new Mosel series, though, we don’t just want to sit around the big table and drink great wines. We also want to draw attention to a reality that remains surprisingly invisible outside the wine world. Traditional steep-slope viticulture along the Mosel is under enormous pressure. While vineyards on flat land are often calculated with 300 to 400 working hours per hectare, the steep slate slopes of the Mosel easily require 2,000 hours or more. Almost everything is done by hand, yet production costs and minimum wages continue to rise, while many consumers still expect prices that are barely compatible with this kind of labour-intensive agriculture.
Which is precisely why we want to celebrate the region: through winemakers and wines that show just how much character, dedication, precision, and history exist along the Mosel.
The first event will take place on Friday, November 27, 2026, with Jonas Dostert (Weinbau Jonas Dostert, Upper Mosel) and Kaja Khov (Racines Rebelles, Luxembourg).
The following winemakers have confirmed so far, with dates to be announced at a later stage:
Julien Renard, Weinbau Julien Renard, Winningen, Mosel
Johannes Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch, Pünderich, Mosel
Gernot Kollmann, Weingut Immich-Batterieberg, Enkirch, Mosel
Martin & Jonas Müllen, Weingut Martin Müllen, Traben-Trarbach, Mosel
Rudolf “Rudi” Trossen, Weingut Rita & Rudolf Trossen, Kinheim-Kindel, Mosel
Dr. Katharina Prüm, Weingut Joh. Jos. Prüm, Wehlen, Mosel
Ernst “Ernie” Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel
Johannes Weber, Weingut Hofgut Falkenstein, Konz-Niedermennig, Saar
Isabelle Müller, Weingut Egon Müller-Scharzhof, Wiltingen, Saar
More to follow.