Richter

The estate of Max Ferd. Richter has been passed down from father to son for the past 300 years. The current reins are held by Dr. Dirk Richter, the 9th generation, and will eventually be passed down to his son Constantin. Max Ferd. Richter produces world-class Rieslings from some of the most esteemed vineyards in the Mosel, and all production comes from estate holdings. 

The possession of Veldenzer Elisenberg dates back to 1813 when ancestor Franz Ludwig Niessen found out that Napoleon Bonaparte planned on uprooting the beloved Veldenz and Mulheim vineyards, and negotiated a personal payment to the General to prevent him from destroying the vineyards. As thanks, the town gave him the entire slope of Veldenzer Elisenberg and it has remained in the family ever since.

The winemakers at Richter believe that great wine comes from the vineyard, not the cellar. With this in mind they strive for precision in their daily viticultural work. The challenge of cultivating vines on the steep, slate slopes of Mosel is overcome by fastidious handwork, small crop sizes, all-natural fertilizers and sustainable farming practices. Additionally, all harvesting is done by hand. Vinification starts with gentle pressing and slow temperature controlled fermentation in traditional old oak barrels (fuders). This careful, deliberate process preserves the vineyard-grown quality of the grapes, develops the unique character of the single-vineyard cuvees, and to gives Richter wines exceptional longevity