This is a fabulous wine from the “spice gardens” vineyard. Mönchhof owns parcels in the Ürziger Würzgarten, the Erdener Treppchen and the Erdener Prälat vineyards, all grand crus on the steep slopes above the Mosel River. The history of Mönchhof (which means “Monk’s House”) goes back to an 1177 document that shows Cistercian monks owned land in Ürzig during that time. They built the estate’s building and underground cellars in the early 1500s and made wine at Mönchhof until the early 1800s, when the Eymael family purchased it. The family has continued to make wine here since. Looking down from the top of this vineyard is dizzying and the wines even more so.

 

Text: Erin Brooks ± Photo: OWCIBES / weinhauss / WINEX / MONTROSE / TOASTER / WEBME