Yuletide Twilight Delight

RTT invites wine enthusiasts and Christmas market connoisseurs to embark on a journey of discovery to the Mosel Weinbaugebiete.  Venture above and underground into the Christmas Unterwelt, to see some of Germany’s most spectacular wine cellars.  Sample award-winning wines, immerse yourself in the stunning scenery, and experience the “Mosel Wein-Nacht,” one of the most unique Christmas Markets in Europe!

Our day begins at the prestigious Walter J. Oster Winery, where a family of artisanal vintners has been proudly practicing the fine art of German wine-making for thirteen generations.   During the winery tour, you will be introduced to the history, production process, and grape varietals grown here.  Learn how the local geography, climate, and rich soil found in this area is essential to creating the complex bouquet and delicious flavors of the vineyard's premium wines. After the tour, our host will treat us to a palette-pleasing, in-depth guided tasting of some popular vintages that have skillfully been crafted here for centuries.  Before we depart,  there will be a chance to purchase your favorite vintages directly from the vineyard, providing the perfect opportunity for you to pair your newly acquired wine skills with your favorite bottles to share with friends and impress your guests over the holidays. 

From the Lower Moselle, we travel through the most beautiful part of the region, following the river’s edge along endless rows of carefully manicured vines, now sleeping and bare for the winter.  Hidden castles, ruins, and picturesque villages reveal themselves as we wind our way into Central Moselle and Traben-Trarbach. We find the town festively dressed in a rainbow of colorful lights, nestled in a particularly beautiful oxbow, known as the Valley of the Dawn. Here, the river gently meanders below the steep hillsides, like a stunning blue ribbon, wrapping the town like a beautiful Christmas gift just waiting to be opened.

Hidden beneath the center of town is the “Vinotropolis,” an underground network of beautifully preserved 16th-century wine cellars, once ranked as the second largest wine trading center in Europe.  The impressive cellar boasts vaults over 300 feet long, now serving as a repository of historical Mosel viticulture and home to the legendary “Mosel Wein-Nacht”. As you descend into this Christmas Unterwelt, you are immediately greeted with the intoxicating scents of sweet roasted almonds, sultry species of hot mulled wine, and the rich camphor of freshly cut pine.  The rustic walls, eves, and sloping ceilings are softly illuminated, transforming the sprawling network of vaults into an intimate, mystical place.  Local craftsmen along with regional and international purveyors have filled the cellars with the finest Christmas decorations, keepsakes, culinary specialties, and wines to temp and delight you.  This market is a unique gem not to be missed, offering an unrivaled Christmas atmosphere that’s sure to jumpstart your Christmas joy!