Weingut Hermann Ludes

Managed by Julian Ludes, this estate marries dedication, innovation and traditional hands-on viticulture in crafting timeless Mosel wines of finesse and remarkable longevity far removed from the mainstream.

The Ludes winegrowing family have been based in Thörnich for centuries. Hermann Ludes Junior laid the foundations for unflinching quality by building up a portfolio of prime vineyard plots. Julian Ludes, Hermann’s nephew, took over the business in 2020 and has proven himself to be a more-than-worthy successor to his uncle. 

Ritsch – the jewel in the crown

The family are especially proud of Ritsch, the spectacular vineyard that overlooks Thörnich. Hewn into the steep hillside, this site boasts old Riesling vines, many of which are ungrafted. Ritsch produces light, delicate wines of timeless character, thanks to a unique combination of soil on the one hand and terroir on the other, with two side valleys opening up on either side of the slope, exposing the vineyard to the cooler air. The estate’s vineyards now comprise 12 hectares and include holdings in Klüsserather Bruderschaft and Pölicher Held.  

Driven by quality and tradition

In both vineyard and cellar, everything at Weingut Hermann Ludes is quality-driven. Blood, sweat and tears go into maintaining the estate’s terraced plots, while fertilisers and crop reduction are consciously eschewed. Julian relies on wild yeasts for fermentations and is against adding enzymes or acid to his wines. When fermentation is over, it’s over – regardless of how much unfermented sugar is still left in the wine. Julian has carried on his uncle’s conservative philosophy of making bracing, raw, reductive-style wines that are focused more on rigour than fruit. These wines have a sense of place and are true long-distance runners. To show their full potential, they simply require time and patience.

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