Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Region

Wines

Bert Simon Estate

Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

In the years 1900 through 1905 the Prussian Minister of Agriculture Baron von Schorlemer acquired the vineyards at Serrig for 197,000 gold marks. Striving to elevate the quality level of the estate to his demanding standards, the Baron spent additional money on improvements, including reinforcement of the steep vineyards with over 6,500 cubic yards of rock walls.

Always focused on quality, the von Schorlemer estate was a founding member of Der Grosse Ring.

The present owner, Bert Simon, whose family was for many years involved in viticulture in the village of Mertesdorf on the Ruwer, has continued this tradition of constant improvement. In 1968, as a young enologist, Bert Simon acquired the von Schorlemer vineyards Serriger Herrenberg and Serriger Würtzberg. Both vineyard sites are monopole sites of the estate and almost all the vines are planted on steeply sloping hillsides. A total of 16ha or about 40 acres are under vines.

The estate produces approximately 12,000 cases in an average year.

The vineyards are planted 75% to Riesling, 20% to Pinot Blanc (Weissburgunder) and 5% to Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder). Pinot Blanc is only planted in the Serriger Herrenberg vineyard.

The Herrenberg vineyard has deep soil with good water supply, mostly blue slate with some red slate and quatzit mixed in. This terroir causes the wines to be racy and elegant with fruit-driven acidity and have high ageingpotential.

The Würtzberg has an incline of up to 75 degrees and its soil consists also of red and blue slate, but has larger amounts of sandstone and clay mixed in. This results in weightier, broader, more full bodied wines. They tend to be ready to drink at an earlier age and have a well integrated acidity.

Bert Simon is very optimistic about the future for top quality Riesling wines and he feels that the system of canals on the Saar (with a lock placed directly below the Serriger Herrenberg and Serriger Würtzberg vineyards) offers a very special microclimate for the Bert Simon wines.

Wines from the 1989, 1997 and 1999 vintages are especially noteworthy. His Spätlese, Auslese and Gold Cap Auslese wines are wonderful old style Saar wines and great values.

The Bert Simon Estate is a member of the Grosse Ring and the VDP Mosel-Saar-Ruwer.