Mythos Mosel, a Weekend in Service to Riesling.
A Vivid Portrait of a Modern Wine Classic.
Three days, thirty wineries, and over 130 winemakers — that sums up Mythos Mosel 2025. From June 13 to 15, the Mittelmosel valley was fully immersed in what makes this region so exceptional: steep slopes, slate-rich terroirs, passionate winemakers — and, naturally, the indisputable star of the show: Riesling.
We recently traveled to the Mosel for a weekend of tasting, comparing, and discovery. Not as wine professionals, but as enthusiasts deeply fascinated by stylistic differences, soil influence, and the emerging generation of winemakers reshaping the region. In this report, our own Onno Deumer will tell you more about the story of the region, the character of the event, and the highlights of our visit.
The Mosel as a Wine Region – Contrasts in Altitude, Style, and Generations
Terroir and Typicity
The Mosel is one of Germany’s most iconic wine regions, especially the stretch between Bernkastel-Kues and Leiwen — known as the Mittelmosel. Here the river winds through steep hillsides where vines sometimes ascend at gradients as steep as 70%. These eye-catching slopes are more than a visual spectacle — they shape the microclimate, ripening, and overall wine style.
Soils range from grey and blue slate to reddish volcanic rock formations, sometimes just yards apart. This interplay of soil type, exposition, and elevation yields remarkable diversity in aroma, structure, and minerality.
The Role of Riesling
Riesling takes center stage. Thanks to the region’s cool climate, well-draining soils, and a tradition of selective harvesting, this grape variety showcases an unparalleled expression of terroir.
From bone-dry (Trocken) to richly sweet (Spätlese, Auslese, and beyond), the stylistic range is vast. Low alcohol levels (typically between 8.5–12%) combined with high acidity create a unique blend of drinkability and complexity. What’s more, Mosel Rieslings are known for their exceptional aging potential.
Between Tradition and Innovation
The Mosel counts several world-renowned estates among its ranks: Markus Molitor, Dr. Loosen, and Egon Müller. These producers played a key role in establishing the region’s global reputation. They preserve the classic Mosel style through spontaneous fermentation, balanced residual sweetness, and aging in large wooden foeders — resulting in wines of finesse, moderate alcohol, and impressive longevity.
Yet the Mosel is by no means stuck in the past. A new generation of winemakers — under the banner of Moseljünger — is injecting fresh vitality into the region. Names such as Carl Loewen are demonstrating how classical methods and modern sensibilities can coexist. Meanwhile, producers like Clemens Busch and Immich‑Batterieberg, though not formal members of Moseljünger, are frequently cited as pioneers. Their style emphasizes dryness, minimal intervention, and transparency in the glass.
New Focus, New Tone
In contrast to established estates like Markus Molitor or Dr. Loosen — which present expansive portfolios ranging from Trocken to Trockenbeerenauslese, with recognizable estate profiles — this new wave is notably sharper in focus. It isn’t about diversity; it’s about precision. These winemakers aim to convey pure terroir through a carefully defined selection of wines.
In this sense, the Mosel is no longer just a monument to the past — it’s also enduringly a laboratory for Riesling’s future.
Mythos Mosel – The Event as a Window into a Region in Transition
Concept and History
Launched in 2014 by the Moseljünger, Mythos Mosel was conceived to showcase the Mosel’s depth and breadth. Each edition centers on a different part of the valley.
In 2025, the focus was on Leiwen and Trittenheim. Attendees could visit 30 host venues and taste wines from approximately 130 wineries. All venues were wineries themselves, hosting brand partners and neighbors. While shuttle buses provided transport, many participants, including ourselves, opted to cycle or walk between locations.
Quality and Variety
What sets Mythos Mosel apart from other wine events is its scale combined with a laser focus. You taste a lot — really a lot — but always within one region and mainly one variety. It’s a perfect setup for comparing vintages, vineyard plots, vinification styles, and individual winemaker approaches.
From the precise elegance of a Markus Molitor Auslese to the structured strength of a dry Große Lage from Maximin Grünhaus — you find it all here. Accessibility is high, the atmosphere relaxed, and the interactions with winemakers both personal and insightful.
The Experience in Practice
Over the course of two days, we visited a dozen wineries, each offering a unique take on Mosel Riesling — from precise, terroir-driven expressions to more opulent or experimental styles. Tasting sessions during the day were insightful and varied, while the evenings brought a more festive atmosphere. As the sun set over the valley, open bottles and shared stories created a sense of community, with locals, winemakers, and visitors mingling, laughing, and even dancing into the night.
Winery Highlights – From Established Icons to Rising Talent
Markus Molitor – A World unto Itself
Though outside the official Mythos Mosel lineup, the Friday tasting at Markus Molitor was a resounding prelude to the weekend. Molitor epitomizes Mosel excellence with precision, range, and depth. What made our visit special was being treated as committed enthusiasts — it enabled us to taste fourteen wines instead of the typical eight, including several not listed on the standard tasting menu.
The highlight was the Bernkasteler Graben Trockenbeerenauslese 2006. This TBA boasted a brilliant gold hue and balanced intense freshness with layers of white fruit, mandarin zest, beeswax, and a hint of honey. With concentrated sweetness, firm acid backbone, a viscous, complex mid-palate, and an enduring finish, it epitomized “liquid gold,” redefining what sweet Riesling can be.
Carl Loewen and Maximin Grünhaus – Precision, Character, Depth
Both estates impressed with clear terroir expression. Carl Loewen’s standout wine was the 1896 Riesling Erste Lage 2024, made from vines woven into the landscape for over 128 vintages. It merged steely fruit, white pepper, and compelling structure. Wine critic James Suckling awarded it 97 points, applauding its concentration, elegance, and “balance of density and minerality.”
Maximin Grünhaus showcased its strengths through a vertical tasting of the Riesling Grünhauser 1G Erste Lage, comparing the 2021 and 2023 vintage. The first offered tertiary notes like ginger and ripe pear, while the latter dazzled with zest and vibrancy — emblematic of their cooler climate style. The Abtsberg Riesling Auslese 2018 also deserves mention: ripe, refined, and remarkably balanced even among high‑level Auslese wines.
Immich‑Batterieberg – New Energy in a Bold, Modern Dress
A special mention belongs to the unconventional Immich‑Batterieberg, a winery that embraces originality on all levels. Their labels eschew vineyard names and traditional classifications in favor of eye-catching titles like Detonation, CAI, or Escheburg. The labels resemble gallery prints more than conventional Burgundy-style packaging. In the glass, their wines are equally bold — spontaneously fermented, often with extended skin contact and minimal cellar intervention. The outcome: vibrant, expressive wines with hints of oxidation, razor-sharp acidity, and a raw mineral edge. Where many Mosel producers aim for refinement, Immich‑Batterieberg opts for tension, character, and a touch of rock‑and‑roll edge — undeniably authentic, though not for all palates.
Mythos Mosel as a Gateway to the Mosel
Mythos Mosel is more than an event. It’s a snapshot of a region in motion, where history and progression coexist. The Mosel combines terroir, tradition, and talent — and continues to articulate itself more gracefully than ever, both at home and abroad.
Riesling remains the thread that binds it all: a grape that here reveals more faces than anywhere else in the world. From bone-dry to lusciously sweet, from muscular to ethereal delicacy — few regions offer such nuance from a single variety. After tasting over 130 wines in three days, one thing becomes unmistakably clear: the Mosel is vibrantly alive.
Mythos Mosel gives you the opportunity to experience it for yourself—not through polished brochures or bottles on a shelf, but at the source, among the winemakers, on the steep hillsides, amid barrels and bottles.
Mark your calendars: Mythos Mosel 2026 runs from 29–31 May. Learn more and book your tickets at:www.mythos-mosel.de
This article is written by our own Onno Deumer. Pictures by the talented Annet Dekker.
