Vineyards along the
Mosel Valley
Serge Fischer
Institut viti- vinicole, Remich
Luxemburg in figures
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Founded in 963
Independent since 1839
Constitutional monarchy
2586 km2
480.000 inhabitants
320.000 working inhabitants
130.000 commuters from Belgium, France and
Germany
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Luxemburg
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
History
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fifth century A.D): Excavations from that
time proof that there has already been vine
growing along the Mosel valley
1880: Revival of Luxembourg viniculture
vineyards produce
up to 90% from the
Elbling vine, mostly
destined for export to
Germany
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
History
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1911: “Fédération des associations viticoles du
grand-Duché de Luxembourg”
1918: the Treaty of Versailles ends Customs
Union with Germany
1921: first wine producers cooperative
1925: state institute of viniculture (Institut VitiVinicole)
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
History
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1935: Quality Wine System“Marque
Nationale” created by law
1959: extension of the “Marque
Nationale”: quality designations “Vin
classé”, “Premier Cru” and “Grand
Premier Cru”.
1965: wine-growers
solidarity fund (Fonds de solidarité
viticole)
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
History
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1988: “Marque Nationale” extended to the
Luxembourg sparkling wines.
1991: Marque Nationale “Crémant de Luxembourg”
2000: Marque Nationale “Vin de glace”; “Vendages
tardives”; “Vin de paille”
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Vineyards
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1300 ha vineyards, 450 producers
The Moselle forms a
natural boundary
from Luxembourg
to Germany between
Schengen and Wasserbillig
Along these 42
kilometres the height
above sea level drops
from 142 to 129 metres.
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Soil
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Remich canton: Keuper layers preponderate
 valley is fairly wide open,
 rounded and softly dropping slopes
 wines are full-bodied and harmonious like the
landscape
Grevenmacher canton: mainly limestone rock
 slow erosion has created a narrower valley
with steep dolomitic slopes
 lively and elegant wine
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Région viticole
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Vineyards
Vine:
 noble cultured plant
 many climatic demands, in particular
regarding temperature, the amount of
precipitation and the hours of sunshine.
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Vineyards
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Thanks to its geographic
position, the geological
properties of its soil and the
predominant moderate
sub-atlantic climatic zone,
the Moselle valley satisfies
excellently the conditions
for this type of cultivation
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Varieties
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Riesling
Pinot Gris
Pinot Blanc
Auxerrois
Pinot Noir
Gewürztraminer
Rivaner
Elbling
163, 74 ha
166, 61 ha
139, 27 ha
176, 32 ha
84, 04 ha
14, 35 ha
397, 48 ha
136, 07 ha
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
12,67 %
12,89 %
10,77 %
13,64 %
6,50 %
1,11 %
30,75 %
10,53 %
V
a
r
i
e
ti
e
s
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Riesling
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“king of wines”
Bunch: small to medium-sized
Grapes: small, round and
yellowish-green in colour
ripens late
wine of distinctive refinement,
breed and of lovely elegance
Bouquet: particularly exquisite
and delicate
13% of the vineyards
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Pinot Gris
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vine originated from mutations of
Pinot Noir.
bunch: medium-sized, compact
grapes of medium thickness, pink
shade with a grey reflection
ripens medium late
unmistakable typical wine, fullbodied, rich in various extracts
which make up its opulence
14 % of the vineyards
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Pinot Blanc
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mutation of the Pinot Gris variety
bunch: medium-sized, compact
grapes compressed,
colour yellowish-green
ripens medium late
pleasant freshness, elegant,
convincing clinging softness
11 % of the
vineyards
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Auxerrois
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bunch is of medium size
grapes are of light-yellow
shade, medium-sized,
Ripens medium early
wine has an excellent body,
distinctive bouque
very durable, elegant and
fruity
14% of the vineyards
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Pinot Noir
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intended for red, rosé and
white wines.
Bunches: medium-sized,
compact constitution
grapes are of medium size,
dark blue
ripens medium late
very fruity with elegant
bouquet
7 % of the
vineyards
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Gewürztraminer
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Bunch: small to medium and
compact
grapes small, round to oval,
reddish-grey shade
ripens late
wine with an unmistakable
aroma, fruity bouquet,
great elegance
19%
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Rivaner
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average-size bunch carries
medium-size yellow-green
grapes
Ripens early
pleasant mild wine with
typical fragrance.
wine is drunk when young
29% of the
vineyards
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Elbling
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cultivated since Roman times
large dense bunches
large, egg-shaped grapes
ripens medium early
Light, fresh wine with a typical
acidity
which makes it an excellent
thirst-quenching wine
9 % of the vineyards
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Since 2004
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Pinot Noir précoce
Dakapo
St Laurent
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
The « Marque Nationale »
= Label for local quality wines
Governmental Quality Controls:
 analytical examinations in the laboratory
 an organoleptic test by the neutral board of expert
tasters of the “Marque Nationale”
 The wine originates from the area of the Luxemburg
Moselle
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
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LABEL for wines
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
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LABEL for Crémant
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Organoleptic test: Tasting
The special grade mentions are awarded according
to the points gained as follows:
 12,0 to 13,9 points: Quality wine “Marque
Nationale - Appellation Contrôlée”;
 14,0 to 15,9 points:Quality wine “Marque
Nationale - Appellation Contrôlée” with the
grade “Vin classé”;
 16,0 to 17,9 points:grade «Premier cru”.
 >18pts : grade « Grand Premier Cru
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Special grade mentions
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Sparkling wines
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label affixed to a bottle = guarantee for the
consumer because:
 cuvée consists entirely of wines of which each
one complies with the regulations for the
production of quality wines originating at the
Luxembourg Moselle
 the sparkling wine fulfils the qualitative
conditions of Luxembourg law and EU
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Sparkling wines
Sparkling wines can be produced either:
- by the “traditional method” of fermentation in the
bottle, or
- by the “tank fermentation process” when
fermentation takes place in a closed vessel
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Crémant de Luxembourg
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The cuvée of basic wines must comply
with the quality standards applicable to
quality wines
A maximum of 100L must can be
extracted out of 150 kg grapes
Second alcoholic fermentation in bottle
Bottle ageing min. 9 month
Min CO2 pressure of 4 bar
Max total SO2 allowed: 150 mg/l
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Producers
2006
Part of the vineyards
Ha
%
Wine producers cooperative
804,2
61,9%
Private vintners
Wine trade
Total
274,1
220,9
1.299,2
21,1%
17,0%
100%
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Les Domaines de Vinsmoselle
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cultivate a vineyard area of about 804
hectare and cover all the notable
appellations of the Luxembourg vine
growing area
co-operative movement in the
Luxembourgish vine growing district goes
back to the beginning of the twenties
produce several varieties of the“ Crémant
de Luxembourg “
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
The Private Vintners
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54 domains belong to owners who sell grapes
and make wine (274 ha = 21,1%)
the wines are sold primarily to private
customers and catering businesses.
the private vintners founded the O.P.V.I., i.e.
their own professional association, to
represent their interests and to
concern themselves with the
problems of wine-growing and
production
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
The Traditional Wine Trade
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associated themselves with well-known
domains and entered supply contracts for
grapes with vintners in their area.
221 ha = 17,1% of the vineyards
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
Stage of development
Development of
the vine
Bud swell
Young shoot
4-leafstadium
8-leafstadium
Beginning of blossom
End of blossom
Period of blossom (days)
Bunches developed
Beginning of ripeness
Beginning of harvest
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole
LMW
37 years
15/04
29/04
16/05
01/06
22/06
29/06
7
19/07
19/08
23/09
Export
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50% Export:
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60%-65% Belgium
30% Germany
Serge Fischer Institut viti-vinicole