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Probably the most famous and most important region in today's wine market, the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer valleys starts at the ancient Roman city of Trier and snake through the Rhineland to Koblenz where it empties into the Rhine. The dramatic slate-covered slopes of the valley (especially in the Middle Mosel) are the keys to the region's success. As the valley is at the same northern latitude as Newfoundland, the exposure to the sun is minimal and therefore vineyards need to be on slopes with a dramatic angle. This angle plus the heavy amounts of slate in the soil that store and reflect up the sun's heat, thereby maximizing the impact. Riesling is the most prominent grape grown here, and is found at its best around the towns of Wiltingen and Schwarzhofberg in the Saar-Ruwer district, and around Bernkastel, Piesport, Wehlen, Brauneberg, Graach, Zeltingen, and Erden in the Middle Mosel district. Wines of the Mosel and its tributaries, the Saar and Ruwer, tend to be pale in color and light-bodied with crisp fruity acidity and have the potential to age in complexity. In warm vintages, Auslese and higher wines show the full potential of the region. 100 years ago, a good wine from the Middle Mosel 100 years ago, would have cost more than a premier cru from Médoc. Today, though, even quality Mosel wines are under-priced due to the flood of wines, allowing wine consumers to experience phenomenal wines without spending a lot of money. The Lower Mosel Valley is made up only of Bereich (District) Zell. Almost exclusively Riesling, these wines lack the finesse of Middle Mosel and are more similar to those of the Mittelrhein.
This list should not be considered final and complete, but rather as a starting point. Although many small producers will happily welcome you into their winery, you may find that most of the more prominent German wine producers only accept visitors with a reservation. It is strongly recommended that you call before going to the winery or even that you make arrangements prior to going to Germany (your local wine shop may be able to assist you with this - click here for more information). Another option is to visit a wine shop in one of the larger towns and "schmooze" the proprietor for recommendations and (possibly) an appointment arranged by them (plan on buying at least a couple of bottles if doing this).
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