When the young Markus Molitor took over the vineyard on the Moselle from his father in 1984 at the age of 20, he practically started from scratch, without owning any land. So, it was hard labor on leased vineyards.

Piece by piece, he has acquired steep-slope vineyards over the decades and can now claim ownership of over 100 hectares. He didn’t exactly start from zero, though, as talent and genius are inherited, and the tradition and experience of his family, who have been in winemaking for eight generations, remain his highest priority. What adds to this is his incredible ambition and work ethic—the kind of guy who burns the candle at both ends.

For Molitor, wine means uncompromising quality work and selection in the vineyard, steep slopes, and exclusively manual labor. This brilliant winemaker personally oversees the harvest in the vineyard and acts as his own cellar master with extreme precision in the cellar. During the fermentation phase, he sleeps in the cellar, sometimes standing, dreaming with his eyes open—each "blubb" of fermentation takes him to other realms. His sole aim is to create grand wines that are true to their origin, unmistakable, and extremely long-lasting. His wines take a few years to fully open up. The estate is located in the heart of the Wehlener Klosterberg. Molitor cultivates vineyards in 15 different locations from Brauneberg to Traben-Trarbach and, since 2001, also in the Saar region. He is exclusively interested in steep slopes. For Markus Molitor, it’s a matter of the heart to bring out the diversity of the terroir and the various microclimates of the vineyards.

Each site is unique in its own way, and every vintage expresses its flavor. Some vines are over 100 years old, on their own roots, forming the foundation for incomparable, finest Mosel wines. The vineyard is predominantly planted with Riesling, though on selected plots, outstanding Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) are also grown. Amazingly, Molitor, as a Mosel winemaker, stands shoulder to shoulder with the best, like Becker, Huber, Fürst, and Ziereisen. The steepest vineyards, with slopes of up to 80%, are lovingly cultivated by hand. Multiple selections and careful inspection of each individual grape. To achieve optimal balance in the wines, Molitor consciously takes the risk of a late harvest. They do not rely solely on technical analysis; experience determines when the grapes have reached the right ripeness. At Molitor, only spontaneous fermentation is used. Fining agents, enzymes, or other additives are deliberately avoided. The wines are initially matured in stainless steel tanks. The grand cru wines then ferment in large (1,000, 2,000, 3,000-liter) wooden barrels made from high-quality, air-dried oak. The wines are fermented cool and slowly. Through the subsequent months of aging on fine lees, the wines gain smoothness and body.

Thanks to his meticulous work in the vineyard and the many different sites, Markus Molitor can truly showcase the full potential of the Mosel. As he is not a member of the VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter), he can use his own labeling system. Once you understand it, everything becomes clear: All white wines with a dry flavor profile have a white capsule (the sweeter the wine, the more colorful the capsule). The vineyard names are on the label, followed by the classic designations QbA, Kabinett, Spätlese, and Auslese, with all wines under the white capsule being dry in taste. And all, even the Kabinetts, are of outstanding quality and can age for decades. The Auslese wines have additional markers: the richer, more concentrated, and higher quality an Auslese wine is, in Markus' assessment, the more stars it receives. This ranges from zero to a maximum of three stars. Naturally, not every vintage produces wines with all stars, as these are absolute, not relative, quality markers. The star system with vineyard designation also applies to Weissburgunder and Pinot Noir, which by law can only be labeled as quality wine without predicates. And now, please immerse yourself in the grand world of Markus Molitor, an absolutely wine-obsessed and brilliant workaholic.