In the middle of the centuries-old cultural landscape of the Middle Moselle lies the wine village of Kinheim-Kindel. The Celts and Romans already saw the ideal climatic conditions for growing wine in the region. The soil of weathered grey and blue slate gives a special character to the wines that are produced here. This also applies to the wines of the now iconic winery of Rita & Rudolf Trossen.
Since 1976 (the year Rudolf's father died and they took over the winery), Rita and Rudolf Trossen have been committed to natural viticulture. Where the fields used to be cultivated conventionally, they decided to work biodynamically. This conversion was not without its challenges; the plants had to find their own strength again. Rudolf: 'We even organised bus trips so that other winemakers could witness our failures' .
At that time they were absolute pioneers in Germany. The perspective is important here: This was many years before Marcel Lapierre, for example, saw the organic light. Rita & Rudolf were and are inspired by everything but the conventional, established Mosel wine order. By working completely biodynamically, they stimulate a healthy, resilient vineyard. The motto is therefore "Mit der Natur für guten Wein". In the meantime, they are deeply rooted in biodynamics, but Rudolf never claims to have the monopoly on the truth: In the meantime, I have been on the biodynamic path that I have taken for 40 years. It is special to experience all these years, yet it feels as if I am only just starting out.'
In the cellar, too, Rita & Rudolf focus on making natural wine. As few interventions as possible: nothing in, nothing out - no additives and no filtration. Since 2010, little to no sulphites have been used. Without sulphur as a stabiliser, the wine develops very differently in aroma and taste and ' reveals hitherto hidden depths and finesse' . The wines lie on the lees until all biological processes have been completed. Patience and attention!
In addition to the beautiful dry wines they produce, they also make some (lightly) sweet wines almost every year, after all a particularly beautiful wine tradition of the area. And all of that from sometimes bizarrely old vines, some of which are more than 100 years old. Overall: all the wines they make reflect their origin. Riesling is a terroir queen, but this iconic winery shows that also - or actually especially - minimal intervention Riesling can do this phenomenally.
