The MW-Mosel-Weinberg AG shareholders’ vineyards are situated on the best slopes of the Moselle and Saar, in Zell on the Moselle and Konz-Filzen on the Saar. Both are in the very best locations that offer optimal conditions for the production of top quality wines. Environmentally responsible cultivation and expert planting are the preconditions for exceptional wines – wines with an individual and unique character.

One such site belonging to the company is the “Zeller Petersborn-Kabertchen”  which is he original site of the world famous ”Zeller Schwarze Katz” or The Black Cat of Zell, which used to belong to the Augustinian monastery of Marienburg.

The story goes that the place name “Zeller Schwarze Katz” dates back to 1863, when some merchants from Aachen after a long wine-tasting session at the Mayntzer winery could not make up their minds over three barrels of wine. Then, when a black cat entered the wine cellar and leaped onto one of the barrels arching its back and spitting furiously to “defend” it, they decided on this barrel. The resale of this wine was so successful that they bought out all the remaining wine of this vineyard, which was henceforth known as the “Zeller Schwarze Katz”, The Black Cat of Zell.

In 1936 a monument with a fountain was erected to commemorate the Black Cat in the old town centre of Zell.

Fig. Wine labels of the “Zeller Schwarze Katz/The Black Cat of Zell” at the end of the 19th century.

Between 100 and 200 metres above sea level the finest Riesling grapes are plucked. The vines grow on the stony shale quartzite and clay shale soil. Labour input on this steep slope per hectare of vines is huge and the work is only possible for those with “alpinist capabilities”. Some alleviation is provided by a monorail which helps in the transport of grapes and equipment.

The small idyllic winegrowing village of Filzen whose tradition goes back to ancient Roman times is situated on the Saar, about 10km south of Trier. The shareholders’ vineyard “Filzener Steinberger” located here is planted only with Riesling vines. The southwest facing slope consists of stony Devon shale soil. The strong sunshine on the shale serves to cultivate outstanding half-dry and mellow wines. The wines from this historical location reflect the typical Saar wine character; sparkling, zestful and with a delicate fruitiness.

The expert winemaker Matthias Hallebach takes care of the vines and the harvesting of the grapes.

SMW Saar-Mosel-Winzersekt GmbH is responsible for the bottling and cultivation of the wines as well as for the production of the sparkling wines and is well-known, both at home and abroad (especially in Asia i.e. Japan and Korea) for its high quality production, using the classic method, an they too have received high national awards for their products.