Bernkasteler Doctor, Premium vineyard in Bernkastel-Kues, Germany.
The Bernkasteler Doctor is a vineyard in Bernkastel-Kues on the Moselle River located on very steep slopes. Several wine estates manage different sections where Riesling grapes grow in blue slate soil, each producing their own version of the wine.
The vineyard got its name in 1636 when an archbishop from Trier praised the wine's healing power. This story from centuries past still shapes how people think of this place today.
The name comes from a legend about a sick archbishop whom the wine supposedly helped in the 1600s. Visitors today can see the distinctive Art Nouveau label design on bottles, a visual mark that has remained consistent for generations.
The best time to visit is in the fall when harvest is happening and you can watch the work in the vineyards. The steep slopes are challenging to walk on, so wearing sturdy shoes is a good idea.
The grapevines grow on slopes with roughly 45 to 60 percent grade, making this one of the steepest locations on the Moselle River. This extreme position creates a unique mineral taste in the wine that comes from nowhere else.
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