Mönchhof
Ürzig, Mosel, Germany
The Mönchhof (the “Monks House or Monks Court”), formerly a possession of the Cistercian Abbey at Himmerod, is one of the oldest wine estates in the Mosel valley. As early as 1177, documents from Pope Alexander III show the abbey owned vineyards in and around the village of Ürzig. Three centuries after the monks built the vaulted cellars, which are still in use today, the monks also completed the estate manor in 1509. After the secularization period, the Eymael family purchased the estate from Napoleon in 1804 at an auction in Paris. The Mönchhof’s first class vineyards are comprised of the very steep Ürzig Würzgarten, Erden Treppchen and a core holding in one of the most prized jewels in the Mosel valley, the Erden Prälat vineyard. They are planted 100% to Riesling, all with original rootstocks. In 2016, Robert Eymael, the sixth generation of the family Eymael, sold the winery to an investor. But he still manages the winery with his cellar and vineyard master Philippe Conzen
Ürziger Würzgarten
This is the only vineyard in the whole wine growing region that has a volcanic soil in combination with red slate soil (rhyolithe), which can only be found in this part of the Mosel valley. The Mönchhof estate is surrounded by the Würzgarten vineyard. Ürzig is the village name and Würzgarten the name of the single vineyard. It means “spicy garden”. It produces wines which show deep complexity, exotic flavors, and a variety of spice notes. What is also special about the vineyard are the extremely old vines. While phylloxera destroyed most European vineyards in the 1860, the vineyards in the Middle Mosel region survived because of their rocky soil, where the small insect could not get in to eat the roots of the vines. So today you find some of the world oldest vines in this region and Mönchhof have vines that are up to 100 years old.
Erdener Treppchen
This single vineyard has a blue slate soil. Erden is the village name and Treppchen the name of the single vineyard. “Treppchen” means “little staircase”. This vineyard was named after the stairs that winemakers had to build into the vineyards hundreds of years ago. The vineyard is so steep that it is difficult for the winemakers to work in the hill and to carry the grapes out of the vineyard. But the steeper the vineyard the better it is. Because of the cool climate, the steep vineyards get more sunshine, so it comes to no surprise that you find some of the world’s steepest vineyards in the Mosel region.
Erdener Prälat
Erden is the village name and Prälat the name of the single vineyard. It is on a steep slope and facing full south with near perfect exposure to the sun. It presents a unique terroir blending blue-grey slate elements of the Erdner Treppchen with red (iron oxide) elements more typical of Ürzig. Most of the vineyard is planted with very old (60-100 years old) un-grafted vines.
Our Selections
Mönchhof Riesling Estate 2024
The 2024 vintage started with a very warm March with a late frost in April, though most of the vineyards were spared from frost. This is in part due to the severe steepness of the slopes and the warmth of the river. In May, there was massive rain and the Monchhof cellars were flooded along with parts of the vineyards. And again, they luckily escaped without any serious damage! The next few months saw more typical weather which stimulated growth. September and October were quite rainy, so the decision was made to commence harvest at the end of September.
Fruit for the Estate Riesling was harvested in the first week of October during their first pick. Immediate pressing followed by a cool fermentation with added yeasts in 5000L stainless steel tanks. The wine aged for three months on lees and was bottled in April 2025.
As an entryway into the wines of Monchhof, the Estate bottling is truly superb. Loads of crunchy green apple and juicy grapefruit, all laced with a mineral verve and some serious spice. On the palate, a delicate sweetness and energetic acidity works wonders together.
10.0 % Alcohol | 28 g/l RS, | 7.6 g/l Acidity
Mönchhof Riesling Kabinett Urziger Wurzgarten 2024
The vertiginous slopes of Ürzig Würzgarten (“spice garden”) is one of the most famous vineyards of the middle Mosel. It features gradients of up to 80%, with Devonian slate, and volcanic soils anchoring the vines to the earth. The vineyards are so steep that they can only be harvested by hand by special trained vineyard workers. The red slate soil is heated by the sun during the day and passes this warmth to the vines during the cooler night- time.
The grapes were hand harvested in the first week of October in the second selective pick. After immediate pressing, 100% of must was fermented with indigenous yeast, all in small stainless steel tanks. The fermentation was cool-stopped and the young wine spent 3 months on lees, after which it was bottled in May 2025.
The 2024 Kabinett Ürzig Würzgarten is another classic, with enticing spices, citrus, and tropical fruit notes on the palate. It is a fine and fresh wine with a perfect balance of fruit and acidity.
8.0 % Alcohol | 50 g/l RS, | 8.0 g/l Acidity
Mönchhof Riesling Spatlese Mosel Slate 2023
The 2023 Mosel Slate Spätlese from the steep slopes around Ürzig shows its fine minerality that comes from the blue Devon slates where it is grown. The wine has an elegant bouquet of citrus and flowers and on the palate it shows vibrant apple and herbal notes and perfectly balanced sweetness.
This wine was grown in the steep slopes around the villages of Ürzig and Erden. The vineyards are so steep that they can only be harvested by hand by specially trained vineyard workers. The slate soil is heated by the sun during the day and passes this warmth to the vines during the cooler night- time.
Harvest occurs during the third week of October. The grapes are directly pressed with 50% of must fermented with indigenous yeast, other 50% of must fermented with added yeasts. Fermentation and aging occurs entirely in stainless steel tanks. After aging on lees, the wine was bottled in August 2024.
8.0 % Alcohol | 65 g/l RS, | 7.8 g/l Acidity
Mönchhof Riesling Auslese Erdener Prälat 2021
The Erden Prälat is the smallest grand cru vineyard in the Mosel with around 1.5 hectares of steep slopes. The label with the monk is reserved only for wines from this vineyard. The wine shows opulent fruits with herbal and smoky notes on the palate. It features a rich texture and a long finish with vibrant acidity accompanying the sweetness. This wine will last for a couple of decades. Just a stunning wine.
Hand-picked, healthy and ripe grapes from the Erden Prälat are the foundation of this wine. The slate soil is heated by the sun during the day and passes this warmth to the vines during the cooler night- time. The grapes are directly pressed after the arrival at the estate. The Prälat grapes are picked last during the harvest.
Serve this wine chilled at 8° Celsius as partner for every kind of desert.
8.0 % Alcohol | 95 g/l RS, | 8.5 g/l Acidity