The Mosel valley is Germany's most dramatic wine region, where the river cuts deep loops through steep slate hillsides covered in Riesling vines. The gradient is so extreme that most work is done by hand — mechanical harvesting is impossible on many slopes — which contributes to wines of uncommon intensity and precision.
Riesling dominates here, producing wines that range from bone dry to lusciously sweet (Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese), always with high acidity and low alcohol. The best vineyards — Bernkasteler Doctor, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Erdener Treppchen — are carved into the most precipitous slopes above the river.
Trier at the western end of the wine route is the best base, with Roman monuments and a good selection of wine bars and producers. The stretch between Cochem and Bernkastel-Kues is the most scenic, with half-timbered villages, medieval castles on the ridges, and boat trips that move between the wine towns at a comfortable pace.
