Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Region

Wines

Wegeler (Mosel) Estate

Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

In 1900 Geheimrat (Privy Councilor) Julius Wegeler bought his first vineyards in the Mosel valley, specifically in the Bernkasteler Doctor. He paid 100 gold marks per square meter a then utopian amount of money. Capable of producing some of Germany's greatest Riesling the wines have always been very expensive. For example, a 1959 Wegeler Doctor Spätlese in 1963 sold for $10.25 while 1959 Ch. Petrus could be purchased for only $7.95. Today the wines are produced by cellarmaster Norbert Breit who was primarily responsible for the turnaround at the Wwe. Dr. Thanisch estate.

The Bernkasteler Doctor vineyard is situated on a peak which is open to the west and well protected to the east by the Hunsrück mountain range. It faces south, south-west and is very steep with grades up to 70%. The vineyard had medium-deep, loamy soil with soft weathered devon slate. Today with approximately 2.6 acres, the Wegeler estate is the largest owner in the Doctor vineyard.

According to legend the Electoral Prince Boedemund II of Trier was healed from a serious illness by ample consumption of wine from a special vineyard and because of such healing power he acclaimed - "The very best Doctor growers on this Mosel mountain." From this time forward this vineyard has been know as the Bernkasteler Doctor.

In addition to the Bernkasteler Doctor, Wegeler also owns over 22 acres in other Bernkasteler properties including the Bernkasteler Lay and Bernkasteler Graben. In addition to the Bernkasteler holdings there are 6 acres in the Wehlener Sonnenuhr, and 2.5 acres in the great Graacher Himmelreich. All these vineyards are very steep and planted 100% with Riesling.

The Wegeler Estate is a member of the VDP Mosel-Saar-Ruwer.

The largest holdings for Wegeler are in the Rheingau where the family holds over 138 acres of property spread amongst the villages of Oestrich, Hallgarten, Mittelheim, Winkel, Johannisberg, Geisenheim, and Rüdesheim. These vineyards are planted 99% to Riesling. It is here that in 1882 Julius Wegeler acquired his very first vineyards in the Berg Rottland and Berg Roseneck sites fo the Rüdesheimer Berg. The principal offices for the Wegeler estates are in the Rheingau village of Oestrich where they also have facilities to produce negociant wines such as our Cellars International Mosel River Selection.

One of the Wegeler success stories has been the concept wine Geheimrat "J." Named in memory of privy councilor Julius Wegeler, the founder of the Wegeler estates, it has become the most ubiquitous dry Riesling in Germany's top restaurants.

The Wegeler's also have property in the Pfalz. The 34.5 acres of vineyard holdings are on a long term lease (since 1973) from the Dr. Deinhard estate. They're planted 92% to Riesling and are located in the villages of Forst, Deidesheim, and Ruppertsberg. These holdings, as well as those from von Buhl and Bassermann-Jordan estates, were part of the original Jordan estate.

Both in the Pfalz and in the Rheingau, J. Wegeler estates are also members of the V.D.P.