(Sergey Glekov
Senior financial advisor)
Mosel is one of Germany’s thirteen official wine regions and is likely the most famous outside Germany. The Mosel wine region was on the third place in Germany in terms of wine production based on 2018 data and accounted for 14.8% the whole production volume. Among most planted grape varieties in the Mosel: Riesling (62.6%), Müller-Thurgau (10.6%) and Elbling (5.4%). However, the Mosel is mainly associated for wines made from the Riesling grape.
The Mosel region covers valleys of the Mosel river and its tributaries – Saar and Ruwer, and was formerly known as Mosel-Saar-Ruwer until 2007 when name was official shortened to Mosel. The best Mosel vineyards are located on steep river bank slopes where the heat from the sun can be maximized by reflection up from the water. The soil is dominated by porous slate which creates an ideal drainage for the regions heavy rainfall and good heat retaining vineyards. During the summer months the weather is warm, but certainly not hot, with an average July temperature of around 18ºC.
Riesling itself is often considered as the world’s finest white wine grape variety by the majority of wine critics. Riesling grape variety displays flowery aromas, almost perfumed, as well as high acidity. Meanwhile, the best Mosel Riesling wines are cherry on top. They are considered as one of the finest whites in the world. With a wonderful balance of sweetness and acidity, they are light and low in alcohol and can be intensely fragrant with floral and mineral notes.
The following peer group includes, in our opinion, the most relevant wines to track price evaluation of Mosel Riesling wines:
2011 Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, Mosel
2005 Markus Molitor Haus Klosterberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, Mosel
2016 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Eiswein, Mosel
2008 Egon Muller Wiltingen Scharzhofberger Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel
2005 Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, Mosel
2000 Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel
2005 Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, Mosel
2010 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, Mosel
2005 Carl von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, Mosel
The retail price range of wines in the above peer group lies between €600 to €5,200, and most of them have wine ratings above 90 points.
Exhibit #1 – Price dynamics of Mosel Riesling wines peer group over the last two years
The most of wines from our peer group showed a positive price growth over the last two years. Returns with one exclusion (2005 Markus Molitor Haus Klosterberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, Mosel) are quite moderate. However, taking in the account, that fine wine typically does not show a negative return over a 10-year hold, in the current market conditions top Mosel Riesling wines can be not only safe-harbor, but also a wise decision for investors with a conservative approach.
Alti Wine Exchange brings a brilliant opportunity to join the Mosel Riesling wines investors club. One of the best Mosel Riesling wines, 2007 Staffelter Hof Kröv Steffensberg Riesling Beerenauslese, is already available for investment on Alti Wine Exchange.
This wine is produced by Staffelter Hof, the oldest active winery in the world, dating back as far as 862 AD. The winery is situated in the small town of Kröv, in the Mosel region. With at least 1150 years of wine making traditions, Staffelter Hof produces exclusive Riesling wines. 2007 Kröv Steffensberg Riesling Beerenauslese is one of Staffelter Hof absolute flagship wines, able to age for easily 100 years. Only 236 bottles were produced, and out of those, 120 have been allocated for investment purposes at Alti Wine Exchange.
With an IBO price of € 69, 2007 Kröv Steffensberg Riesling Beerenauslese is a unique investment opportunity with an exceptional price growth potential. Over the long-term, the demand-supply imbalance is exacerbated by increasing consumption and subsequently decreasing availability, and therefore this wine will become only more desirable due to its rarity. Being in the lower price brackets, 2007 Kröv Steffensberg Riesling Beerenauslese has more possibility of gains in comparison to its more expensive peers.