Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours took place from
August 28 – Friday, September 06, 2024. We spent 10 days visiting top
wine estates in five wine regions, tasting fabulous Rieslings and Pinot
Noir (aka Spätburgunder), meeting world-renowned wine makers, travelling
through the world’smost beautiful wine regions, cruising on the
romantic Rhein river, looking at dizzying steep vineyards along the
Rhein and Mosel rivers, and delving deep into German history and
culture: Rheinhessen • Rheingau • Mittelrhein • Mosel • Nahe
Weingut Matthias Hild in Wincheringen, Upper Mosel
The Upper Mosel is completely different from the rest. This is a Mosel with no Riesling and no slate. Instead, we have Elbling, one of Europe's oldest indigenous grapes and we have the very end of the Paris
Basin, this gigantic force of Kimmeridgian limestone that runs from the cliffs of Dover, through France (informing parts of the Loire Valley, Chablis, Champagne, Sancerre and yes, Burgundy) until it collides, just a few kilometers away, with a massive wall of slate.
Here we find Matthias Hild who is the 4th generation of the family winery. He farms 17 acres of vineyards and has upheld the tradition of planting Elbling for over 100 years. He is making a gorgeous Elbling Sekt produced in the Méthode Traditionelle as well as Elbling still wines.
Hild/ vom Boden
The joy of Elbling is the uncompromising vigor and energy, the raucous and super-chalky acidity. Matthias Hild and his son Jonas farm about five hectares in the sleepy town of Wincheringen. “Matz,” as he’s known to friends, told me that back in the 1980s, when he’d have an Elbling clock in at less than 8.5 grams acid, he’d taste it and question if it was Elbling at all. Which is sort of like saying you’re not sure the music is loud enough because your ears aren’t bleeding.
Matthias Hild reminds me of Randal Graham, the famous founder/winemaker of Bonny Doon, in his eclectic mix of scholar, advocate, farmer and trickster. He also sports a thinning pony tail and takes everything at his own pace and on his own terms. This strength of character likely explains some of how Hild has survived in the Obermosel making quality-minded, honest wines in a region where this is not a financially wise thing to do.
The fact that Matthias is single-handedly trying to save the old, terraced parcels of Elbling (see photo above) is a move that is equal parts romantic and completely insane. The financial realities of working these vineyards by hand while accepting their lower yields simply do not add up. This is an act of cultural preservation more than anything else. He calls the wine “Zehnkommanull” which means simply 10% — the wine always ferments bone dry and is 10% ABV or less. The few cases that I’m able to get of this wine are, to me at least, semi-sacred voices of a time long past. Sacred voices that end up on the $20-and-under table and most often overlooked. Hopefully this will change. At the very least, you’re going to hear me shouting about this place.
Also, to celebrate “Felbling” 2023, we recorded a Podcast of our Obermosel journal 008, which you can view here. Don’t worry, I’m not shouting about this place on the podcast; I’m articulating and speaking slowly in a soothing manner.
Arriving at Weingut Matthias Hild
Tasting
The Wines
Bye-bye
Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours: Already Released and Forthcoming Postings
Overview: Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by Ombiasy Public Relations and Wine Tours led by Annette Schiller - Facebook Day-by-day Postings
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Braunewell in Essenheim, Rheinhessen, with Stefan Braunewell - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Weingut Thörle in Saulheim, Rheinhessen, with Christoph Thörle, Johannes Thörle and Uta Thörle - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Grauburgunder (French: Pinot Gris - Italian: Pinot Grigio) and Dinner at Restaurant Lumen - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by
ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Weingut Eva Fricke in Eltville, Rheingau, with Eva Fricke - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Wein- und Sektgut Barth (VDP) in Hattenheim, Rheingau, with Mark Barth and Alexia Putze - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe
2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Iconic
Kloster Eberbach in the Rheingau (one of the Largest Wineries in
Germany): Lunch at the Abbey Tavern and Guided Tour of the Eberbach
Abbey - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
"Steinberg"
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Kloster Eberbach
(VDP) in Eltville, Rheingau, with Head-winemaker and Deputy MD Kathrin
Puff - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Wine-pairing Dinner at Restaurant Kronenschlösschen, Hattenheim, Rheingau, with Weingut Balthasar Ress Senior Boss Stefan Ress, Kronenschlösschen Maître and Head Sommelier Florian Richter (Best German Sommelier 2024 - Sommelier Union), Chef Roland Gorgosilich and Owner Johanna Ullrich - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Georg Breuer in Rüdesheim, Rheingau, with Theresa Breuer - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Schloss Johannisberg (VDP), the Iconic Rheingau Estate, with Dieter Salomon - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by
ombiasy WineTours
Lunch and Impromptu Tasting of Weingut Familie Allendorf Wines with Ulrich Allendorf and Max J. Schönleber at Restaurant Allendorf am Rhein - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn (VDP) in Oestrich-Winkel, Rheingau, with Peter Bernhard Kühn - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Massive Tasting at Weingut August Kesseler (VDP) in Assmannshausen, Rheingau, with August Kesseler - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by
ombiasy WineTours
Spectacular View of the Rhein Valley in the Mittelrhein Region (UNESCO World Heritage Region), Lunch and Wine Tasting at Weingut Lanius Knab (VDP) in Oberwesel, Mittelrhein, with Jörg Lanius - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cruise on the Rhein River in the Mittelrhein Valley, an UNESCO World Heritage Region, from Boppard to Koblenz, with Castles and Ruins Crowning the Top of the Hills like Pearls on a String - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tour of the Fortress Ehrenbreitstein in Koblenz, the Largest Historical Fortress in Europe after Gibraltar - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch and Impromptu Wine Tasting of the Wines of Weingut Madame Flöck, with Weingut Madame Flöck Owner/ Winemaker Robert Wade, Verbene Bistro Chef Tim Johnston, Restaurant Verbene Michelin starred Chef/ Owner David Weigang and Partner Verena Schimmel - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting with the Locals: At the Weinfest in Winningen, Terrassenmosel - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Guided Tour of Eltz Castle, a truely Fairytale Medieval Castle in the Hills above the Mosel - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
3-course "Sommermenü" Lunch at Restaurant Heim in Hotel Reiler Hof in Reil - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Melsheimer in Reil, Middle Mosel, with Thorsten Melsheimer - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Weingut Clemens Busch (VDP) in Pünderich, Middle Mosel, with Oda Borchert - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Weingut
Dr. Thanisch, Erben Müller-Burggraef, Wines and Overnight Stay at the
Brand-new, High-end Deinhard’s Hotel in Bernkastel-Kues - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Weingut Dr.Loosen (VDP) in Bernkastel-Kues, Middle Mosel, with Anne Juchem - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Weingut Max Ferdinand Richter in Mülheim, Middle Mosel, with Dirk Richter - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch on the Mosel Terrace at Restaurant Weisser Bär in Mülheim - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Weingut Hermann Ludes in Thörnich, Middle Mosel, with Julian Ludes - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Weingut Günther Steinmetz in Brauneberg, Middle Mosel, with Sammy Steinmetz - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting
at Weingut Matthias Hild in Wincheringen, Upper Mosel, with Matthias
and Jonas Hild - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch
with Wines from Luxemburg at Koeppchen Bistro-Brasserie in
Wormeldange-Haut in Luxembourg - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by
ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard
Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Van Volxem (VDP) in Wiltingen,
Saar, with Lukas Büchner - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy
WineTours
Asian Themed Wine-pairing Dinner at Dian's in
Bernkastel-Kues, led by Janet Cam and Annette Schiller - Germany
Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Weingut H. Dönnhoff (VDP), Oberhausen, Nahe, with Anne Dönnhoff - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch at Hermannshöhle Restaurant Weck in Niederhausen - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting
at Weingut Korrell Johanneshof in Bad Kreuznach, Nahe, with Sonja
Reinbold and Martin Korell - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy
WineTours
Wine-pairing Dinner at Restaurant Kruger-Rumpf,
Weingut Kruger-Rumpf (VDP), with Stefan Rumpf - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe
2024 by ombiasy WineTours