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Neumagen wineshipImage: Deutsches Weininstitut
Neumagen wineship. The Neumagen wine ship was part of the tomb of a Roman wine merchant from the early third century. The remains of the tomb were found in Neumagen in 1878 as part of the foundation of the late antique defence wall of the Noviomagus Treverorum fortress. Neumagen therefore claims the title of “Germany's oldest wine village”. The original is now in the Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier. A copy of the ship can be found at St. Peter's Chapel in Neumagen. There are other replicas, including one in the Knauf Museum in Iphofen. In 2007, apprentices of the Trier Chamber of Crafts made a wooden replica. The Stella Noviomagi (Star of Neumagen) anchors in the harbour of Neumagen-Dhron and is the largest floatable Roman ship ever reconstructed in the German-speaking world.

Our Latest Ratings

WinewhitedryWeißer Riesling

2022 Oppenheim Sackträger Riesling Alte Reben Qualitätswein trocken

Dr. Heyden, Oppenheim

Germany

Rheinhessen • Geschützte Ursprungsbezeichnung (g. U.)

Amtliche Prüfungsnummer 4387434 22 23 • 12.5 % vol alcohol

17🯅

Tasted on 11 July 2026 by Werner Elflein

Fermented in a half-piece. Straw-yellow. A delicately spicy bouquet of green apple and white flowers, underpinned by subtle hints of aniseed and with nuances of yellow fruit. Traces of malolactic fermentation. A delicately creamy texture. Magnificent density on a firm, mineral foundation. Refined, ripe and well-integrated acidity. Delicate and perfectly balanced. Expressive and persistent. Outstanding length.

17🯅

Tasted on 11 July 2026 by Julia Elflein

WineredsweetMoscato Rosa

2004 “Schweizer” Moscato Rosa

Franz Haas, Montan

Italy

Trentino-Alto Adige ↳ Alto Adige / Südtirol • Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC)

Lot number 0406 • 12.5 % vol alcohol

17.5🯅

Tasted on 9 July 2026 by Werner Elflein

Can a Rose Muscat age favourably for more than 20 years? Can the aromas typical of the grape variety endure for such a long time? The answer to both questions is: yes. Now with a brick-red colour, the bouquet – characterised by tertiary notes – is reminiscent of a mature Burgundy. However, notes of rose and nutmeg are still very much present. On the palate, Franz Haas’s Moscato Rosa possesses all the attributes of a serious red wine, with the finest velvety to fine-grained tannins that coat the mouth. The sweetness is very subtle and does not clash with the wine's multi-layered structure. Perfectly balanced, there is nothing to prevent it from continuing to age favourably in the bottle. Magnificent length.

WinewhitedryWeißer Riesling

2021 Forst Musenhang Riesling Qualitätswein trocken

VDP.ERSTE LAGE ®

Georg Mosbacher, Forst an der Weinstraße

Germany

Pfalz • Geschützte Ursprungsbezeichnung (g. U.)

Amtliche Prüfungsnummer 5112066 23 22 • 12.5 % vol alcohol

17.5🯅

Tasted on 18 June 2026 by Werner Elflein

White gold. A complex nose with cool yellow fruit aromas, subtle spice, delicate floral notes and reductive aromas of matches and a hint of flint. Juicy Riesling fruit, somewhat reminiscent of banana jelly. Well-balanced, ripe, buffered acidity, clearly influenced by the limestone soil. Excellent length.

17🯅

Tasted on 18 June 2026 by Julia Elflein

WinewhitedryChardonnay

2024 “Avec Mention”

Valensac, Florensac

France

Languedoc-Roussillon ↳ Pays d'Oc • Indication géographique protégée (IGP)

14.5 % vol alcohol

16🯅

Tasted on 16 June 2026 by Werner Elflein

Golden yellow. A well-balanced wine, characterised by malolactic fermentation and barrique ageing. A rather restrained, delicately floral and herbaceous bouquet of yellow fruits with a subtle hint of honey. Dense and creamy on the palate, with polished acidity and an ethereal freshness. Despite 14.5 % alcohol, it retains delicate Chardonnay aromas. Very long and persistent.

16🯅

Tasted on 16 June 2026 by Julia Elflein

WinewhitedrySauvignon Blanc

2023 Sulzfeld Sauvignon Blanc Qualitätswein trocken

VDP.ORTSWEIN ®

Zehnthof – Theo Luckert, Sulzfeld am Main

Germany

Franken • Geschützte Ursprungsbezeichnung (g. U.)

Amtliche Prüfungsnummer 4050 14 24 • 13 % vol alcohol

16.5🯅

Tasted on 22 May 2026 by Werner Elflein

16🯅

Tasted on 22 May 2026 by Julia Elflein

16.5🯅🕓

Tasted on 13 July 2024 by Werner Elflein

Light lemon yellow colour. Distinguished, subtle fragrance with fine, floral aromas reminiscent of an elegant Sancerre, not overly characterised by pyrazines. Pronounced chalky minerality. Lively acidity. Exceptionally complex and with excellent structure. Very good length and depth.

Symbols
🯅The rating of the wine is based on a single taster. The taster is named in the context of the rating. The tasting was either open or blind. In case of a blind tasting, it is explicitly labelled as such.
🯅🯅The rating of the wine is based on two tasters. The tasters are named in the context of the rating. The tasting was carried out according to the four-eyes principle, in which both tasters agree on a joint rating.
🯅🯅🯅The rating is based on a tasting by our jury and indicates the Mean value calculated by us from the individual ratings of the tasters. Our mean value is based on the median.
⚖The wine was evaluated in a blind tasting. We have strict rules for blind tastings. The tasters do not receive any information that would allow them to identify the wines. The tasters are only given access to further information that goes beyond the subject matter if it is absolutely necessary for understanding the wines.
🕓We only had limited time to taste the wine  - typically during an open tasting event, such as a wine fair. It was therefore not possible to observe the development of the wine in the glass over a longer period of time. The informative value of our rating may therefore be limited under certain circumstances.
⛬The wine was tasted as a barrel sample or before an official test number (Amtliche Prüfungsnummer or Staatliche Prüfnummer) was issued. We only accept samples of unfilled wines in exceptional cases, and then only if we can assume sufficient stability in the bottle for a period of at least three months.
▲During our tasting, the wine showed conspicuous sensory characteristics. This does not necessarily have to be a wine fault. We categorise the quality and quantity of the abnormality and include it in the rating. Wine faults such as cork taint or an atypical ageing generally lead to a complete rejection.
Tastings that refer to the same bottle of a wine are visually summarised by a dotted line.

Our Latest Posts

Satire

Wellness for the Vineyards

Massage Techniques for Vines are Revolutionising Viticulture
Image: weinfreaks.de
In spring, even before the vines begin to bud, the first seasonal workers are already busy tending the vines in the Saar vineyards. At the famous Scharzhofberg, the focus is not on pruning or tilling the soil. Instead, you see the workers bent over the vines, massaging the wood with their hands just a few centimetres above the root zone.
Facts

The Rescue of Moselle Apollo and Steep-Slope Viticulture

Melanargia and Deutsche Umwelthilfe Have Lost at the Court, Rescue Measures for the Moselle Apollo are Effective
Image: Detlef Mader
At the end of 2023, we reported for the first time on the serious threat to the Moselle Apollo butterfly. In April 2025, a report was published on the feared imminent extinction of the unique knight butterfly and the absurd lawsuit brought by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Melanargia – Rheinisch-Westfälischer Lepidopterologen (AGL) and the Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) for a ban on helicopter spraying in steep-slope viticulture on the Moselle, which has since been rejected by the administrative courts in four rulings. Therefore, there are now renewed hope.
Facts

When Wine Disappears

On the Erosion of a Culture of Enjoyment
Image: Pixabay
Wine is more than just a matter of taste or fashion. It is a structural element of everyday life and has long been embedded in social rituals and cultural habits. In the post-war period, especially from the 1950s onwards, wine became a symbol of stability, routine and prosperity. The integration of wine into everyday life was not a luxury phenomenon, but rather an expression of the social and economic conditions of the time, which were characterised by predictable career paths, stable incomes and clear social milieus.
Comment

Dry January

Moral Imperative or Cultureless Dogmatism?
Image: Pixabay
At the beginning of each year, the collective abstinence parade known as Dry January begins anew. A whole month without alcohol, marketed as an act of self-control, as a contribution to physical regeneration, as a signal of a “sensible lifestyle”. Those who opt out of this ritual quickly find themselves under pressure to justify their decision. What appears to be a voluntary health initiative, however, on closer inspection turns out to be a media-driven standardisation project that suppresses enjoyment, culture and differentiation in favour of simple messages.
Obituary

Remembering Hans-Günter Schwarz

On the Death of the Legendary Winemaker
Image: Wikipedia
Germany's wine world is in mourning. Hans-Günter Schwarz passed away on 21 November 2025 at the age of 84. For decades, Schwarz was arguably the most prominent figure in the German wine scene. He established the international reputation of the Müller-Catoir winery and trained many young winemakers to become top producers. His achievements remain unrivalled to this day.
Comment

Terroir and Misunderstanding

Why the Grape Variety Matters
Image: weinfreaks.de
“A spectre is haunting the world of wine. Its name is terroir.” [translated] With these words, Reinhard Löwenstein once opened his famous essay “Vom Öchsle zum Terroir” (From Oechsle to Terroir), published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in October 2003. The article was preceded by years of discussion that had shaped the German wine scene since at least the late 1990s. Löwenstein's essay was of enormous importance to the discourse at the time. In many respects, it is still highly topical. Nevertheless, the headline itself contains a serious misunderstanding.
Tasting

Bordeaux: 2022 a Vintage of the Century?

Great Wines despite Great Drought
Image: weinfreaks.de
Apostrophising a vintage as the vintage of the century even before a centenary has passed may seem premature. However, with regard to the 2022s from the Bordeaux region, the assessment that exceptional wines were produced in that year is undoubtedly anything but bold. Of course, not all châteaux were able to triumph. Moreover, the 2022 was anything but a sure-fire success. The course of the vintage presented the winemakers with major challenges. However, in many cases, the result in the bottle can be downright inspiring. We tasted a cross-section of the vintage on the occasion of the presentation of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux at this year's ProWein.
Comment

ProWein in Decline

Large Drop in Exhibitors and Visitors at the International Wine Fair in Düsseldorf
Image: Messe Düsseldorf
In its press release, Messe Düsseldorf celebrates ProWein 2025 (16–18 March) as a success. However, the facts speak a different language. Only 4200 exhibitors, 20 per cent fewer than last year, were spread across the eleven exhibition halls. The number of visitors also fell, by a good ten per cent to 42000 compared to 2024. While the trade fair continues to emphasise the outstanding importance of ProWein for the international wine industry, the exodus of German wine producers in particular has reached a new dimension. Only around 900 exhibitors came from Germany in 2025.

A selection of our previous posts

Facts

Against Viticulture and for the Death of the Apollo Butterfly

Absurd Lawsuit against Rhineland-Palatinate
Image: Pixabay
Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) is a non-profit organisation under German association law, but above all it is a group of lobbyists who receive state support for their activities. According to the online platform auto.de, this amounted to almost five million Euros in 2018. The DUH received further 2.5 million Euros from the lucrative business of issuing warning letters. DUH is now suing the state of Rhineland-Palatinate together with the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Rheinisch-Westfälischer Lepidopterologen (AGL). Since 2011, the state's Ministry of Viticulture has repeatedly granted winegrowers in the Lower Moselle region exemptions for helicopter spraying, which is prohibited by law in the state.
Facts

Underground Power Lines instead of Vineyards

Hochheim am Main Defends Itself
Image: Pixabay
Germany is facing an energy transition. Fossil fuels, whose share of electricity generation continues to decline but still currently accounts for around 35 per cent, are not available indefinitely. In 100 years at the latest, the remaining raw materials would be exhausted if the production volume remained the same. Because politicians have been asleep for decades, things need to move quickly now. Forward-looking and far-sighted planning has fallen by the wayside. Construction measures are being driven forward with a crowbar that are likely to destroy the economic performance of an entire region and, not least, a wine culture that is thousands of years old.
Tasting

A Vision Lives On

From the Fuchs-Jacobus Winery to Gut Steyerberg
Image: Gut Steyerberg
As early as 1989, the Jacobus family cultivated their vineyards according to the guidelines of the Demeter Association, making them one of the pioneers of biodynamic viticulture in Germany. Wilfried and Marlene Jacobus have now largely retired. Because their children did not want to take over the business, it was actually supposed to be sold. But things turned out differently. Thorben Bosse took over, and the Fuchs-Jacobus winery has since become Gut Steyerberg. Werner Elflein tasted a great wine collection and spoke with the new owner.
Tasting

Virginia on the Road

The Development of a Young Wine Region
Image: Pixabay
Compared to the total area under vines in the United States, Virginia's viticulture may only play a minor role. In terms of quality, however, the wines of the state on the American east coast have become increasingly important in recent decades. Although Virginia's wines are still little known on the international stage, they are increasingly developing into important export goods. Virginia is still a young wine region. It was not until the late 18th century that European immigrants planted the first vineyards here. Among them was Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers and third president of the United States.
Tasting

Turning One into Three

Kilian Schmitges' Three-Barrel Experiment
Image: weinfreaks.de
Middle Mosel winemaker Kilian Schmitges from Erden embarked on an unusual experiment in autumn 2016, distributing the grapes from his best dry Riesling evenly across three different containers. What makes it special: In addition to a steel tank and an oak barrel, a granite barrel was also used. While the three wines (labelled Steel, Stone and Wood) were still very similar in the first year after bottling, they now reveal significant differences as they mature. Initially, the stainless steel version was ahead of the granite version, but with the appropriate time lag, we have a completely different ranking.
Tasting

Aha, the Ahr!

Germany's northern Red Wine Paradise
Image: Deutsches Weininstitut
In German, the interjection Aha! stands for a sudden insight or realisation. But Aha is also a Celtic word from which the name of the river Ahr is derived. It means as much as water. Aha, the Ahr! therefore seemed to us to be a fitting title for our themed tasting in two respects, because the past year, which was for us dominated by the Pinot Noirs and Pinot Noirs Précoces (locally known as Frühburgunder) from Germany's small red wine paradise, gave us plenty of deep insights and findings. For Aha, the Ahr! we tasted over 150 wines. As a rule, we had two bottles of each wine which we subjected to a total of four individual tests. Two of these tests were carried out as part of a blind tasting.
Tasting

Cool Styria

White Wines from Austria's Southeast
Image: Pixabay
In Styria, south of Graz, the majority of white grape varieties grow on 4200 hectares of vineyards. The cool hilly sites produce elegant and highly mineral wines that do not appear fat and correspond to what many wine lovers appreciate. Sauvignon Blanc in particular sets international standards. Mind you, we do not mean the representatives of the Steirische Klassik, which often look like overseas Sauvignons in terms of style, but rather selected terroir and site single vineyard wines that are more reminiscent of the French Loire than of New Zealand, without sacrificing their distinctive flavour. In addition, great wines are also produced from the Chardonnay called Morillon here.
Tasting

Pinot Noir Speaks German

Four Countries – One Variety
Image: Deutsches Weininstitut
The fact that world-class Pinot Noirs are now occasionally produced in Germany, the land of white wines, is nothing new to many connoisseurs of the subject, even if wine drinkers, especially those with a Francophile bent, often elevate the supposed original from Burgundy to the dubious measure of all things. They tend to ignore the fact that, in addition to the chalky soils of Burgundy, the slate slopes of the Ahr and the red sandstone soils of Franconia, for example, also produce impressive and very distinctive Pinot Noirs that have no need to hide on the international stage. The Pinot Noirs from Switzerland, which also have a say in the race among the best “German-speaking” representatives of the grape variety, are mostly completely unknown in this country and were virtually unavailable in Germany until recently. But not only in Germany and Switzerland, also in parts of Austria and South Tyrol excellent Pinot Noirs are produced.