The Trarbacher Ungsberg Vineyard

Johann Hofmann, the headmaster of the Trarbach High School (founded in 1573) published a comprehensive book in 1669 about his home town,The Trarbach Scroll of Honour, in which he described local viticulture and viniculture. He wrote that Trarbacher Ungsberg was one of the most prestigious vineyards and that it was planted with the Riesling grape, despite its lower yield, because the growers preferred it for the fruity flavour it gave to the wine. In the 17th century few growers could afford to cultivate Riesling because the tax was 50% of the total production! It was only in the middle of the 19th century when the tax system had changed that the Riesling became paramount in the best vineyards.

Christian von Stramberg, wrote in his book Das Moselthal, published in 1837, that both the vineyards and the cellar techniques in Trarbach were of a far higher standard then those in any other Mosel villages - and that the Ungsberg vineyard was certainly the finest.

The Ungsberg vineyard covers 9 hectares in the narrow valley of the Kautenbach stream which joins the Mosel at Trarbach. The vertigious slope faces south-west, forming a natural concave mirror of blue slate. The name originates from the latin in unguis monte meaning the hill where in the past medicinal and unguent herbs were collected.

The Trarbacher Ungsberg vines were brought to the Max Ferd.Richter estate by ancestors who were Lutheran Pastors in Trarbach. Pastor Pfeiffer is reported to have added „and protect our beloved Ungsberg, Amen" to the Lord's Prayer every Sunday!

Today all Ungsberg wines are off-dry and in almost every vintage they develop an elegant slaty and steely character with a spicy flavour - neither too leight nor too heavy.