Bernkasteler Doctor GG 2021

The winegrowing tradition of the Mosel estate Dr. H. Thanisch Erben Burggraef can be traced back more than 375 years. For generations, the Thanisch name has stood for luxurious white wines and sublime Rieslings from Germany’s most precious white-wine site, the Berncasteler Doctor.

The special nature of Doctor wine is surrounded by centuries-old history: when the Elector of Trier fell incurably ill, he proclaimed that anyone who could bring him a remedy for his fever would be richly rewarded. His grave seemed certain, as no doctor could help him, until a nobleman appeared and handed him a cup of his golden wine. Days later, the fever subsided. The prince rose and was cured.

When asked what riches might reward the nobleman, he requested only that his wine, which grew solely on the hills of Bernkastel, be granted the title of Doctor, for it was the true doctor. The prince agreed and issued the noble remedy a Doctor’s certificate with all seals. Ever since, the vineyard has been ennobled by the Electoral name: ‘Berncasteler Doctor’.

Today, estate manager Maximilian Feger cultivates the 16-hectare estate with this exceptional site. Building on this long tradition and his expertise, he creates top-class Mosel wines.

The Mosel is one of Germany’s oldest and most renowned wine regions, shaped by spectacular steep slopes along the Mosel, Saar and Ruwer rivers. The sometimes extreme slate slopes store heat and give the wines a distinctive minerality.

At its heart is Riesling: filigree, fragrant and precise, with crystal-clear acidity and often lower alcohol.

Alongside Riesling, Elbling, Müller-Thurgau and increasingly exciting sparkling wines can also be found. The Mosel stands for finesse rather than power: delicate fruit, slate spice and elegant lightness. Picturesque towns such as Bernkastel, Traben-Trarbach and Winningen, together with traditional estates and historic cellars, make the region a paradise for Riesling lovers.