Staatliche Weinbaudomäne Trier - Avelsbacher Hammerstein Riesling Auslese 1976

Detailed report on the Trier State Vineyard – Avelsbacher Hammerstein Riesling Auslese 1976

1. The Trier State Vineyard – A historic Prussian legacy

The Trier State Vineyard – also known as the Avelsbach State Vineyard and later as Hofgut Avelsbach – was a vineyard in Trier-Kürenz owned by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Its history dates back to the late 19th century: in 1896, on the initiative of the agricultural scientist Hugo Thiel (1839–1918) , it was founded by the Prussian state as a model vineyard. The aim was to promote modern and efficient methods of viticulture and to conduct research into plant protection methods – a pioneering project for its time .

Over the years, the estate grew to cover an area of 31 hectares, 70 per cent of which consisted of steep slopes. The vineyards were spread across several sites, including the Avelsbach Hammerstein and the Avelsbach Rotlei (both exclusively owned) as well as the St. Maximiner Kreuzberg, the Deutschherrenberg and the Deutschherrenköpfchen in Trier. .Riesling was the predominant variety grown (82 per cent of the area), supplemented by Pinot Noir, Regent, Elbling, Chardonnay and Traminer vines.

1977 saw a merger with the Landes-Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt (LLVA). As the 88-hectare vineyard area far exceeded the requirements for research and training purposes, the vineyards in Serrig and Ockfen were privatised. In 2020, the estate was finally privatised – the new owner was DWM – Deutsche Wein Marketing GmbH from Berlin, which now runs the estate under the name Gut Avelsbach.

2. The single vineyard Avelsbacher Hammerstein

The Avelsbacher Hammersteinvineyard is situated in the Avelsbach/Olewig Valley within the city limits of Trier, in the Mosel wine-growing region . The vineyards are situated in one of the Mosel’s idyllic side valleys, the Aveler Berg. Geologically , the site is characterised by slate soils – a distinctive feature of Mosel wines that lends the Rieslings a particular minerality and a fine acidity profile. These conditions generally produce slender, acidity-driven wines with a pronounced slate character, often Rieslings with a clear structure and moderate alcohol content.

According to recent figures , the Avelsbach estate comprises 25 hectares of vineyards, which include not only the Hammerstein but also the Deutschherrenberg and the St. Maximiner Kreuzberg in Trier.

3. The 1976 vintage on the Moselle

The 1976vintage is one of the legendary vintages of the 20th century – not only in Bordeaux, but also on the Moselle. The exceptionally warm and dry weather resulted in grapes with high sugar content and great concentration. The wines of this vintage are renowned for their richness, sweetness and exceptional ageing potential. *Wine Spectator* awarded the 1976 vintage 96 points for German Rieslings and described the wines of that year as exceptional.

The top Mosel wines from this vintage also receive top marks from critics: For example, the 1976 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese from Joh. Jos. Prüm received 97 Falstaff points, whilst the 1976 Scharzhofberger Auslese from Egon Müller-Scharzhof received as many as 99 Falstaff points.

The 1976 Avelsbacher Hammerstein Riesling Auslese from the Trier State Wine Estate ranks among this elite group of great Mosel Rieslings.

4. The wine in detail

Auslese is the third tier of the German Prädikat wine pyramid (after Kabinett and Spätlese) and refers to a wine made from selectively harvested, overripe grapes with a significantly higher must weight. These wines possess great sweetness potential and, at the same time , a fine acidity structure, which gives them the potential to age for decades.

5. Tasting notes and ratings

Direct tasting notes for the 1976 Avelsbacher Hammerstein Riesling Auslese are not documented in detail in the available sources. However , there are tasting experiences with neighbouring vintages from the same vineyard site, which convey an impressive picture of the character of these wines:

The following description is givenfor the 1983 Avelsbacher Hammerstein Auslese from the Trier State Vineyard:

“Remarkably light colour, quite fresh, slightly nutty Riesling bouquet. Very subtle notes of maturity, lovely smoky undertone. Very fresh and spicy on the palate. Very juicy peach fruit, herbs, redcurrants, bread crust. Perfectly integrated acidity, a hint of caramel, long finish. A wonderfully matured Riesling that is strongly reminiscent of Ruwer wines (in fact, the Aveler Valley is separated from the Ruwer by nothing more than a ridge).”

For the 1989 Avelsbacher Hammerstein Riesling Auslese , CellarTracker describes a voluminous and elegant nose reminiscent of oil painting, linseed oil and a hint of kerosene, underpinned by silky Riesling notes featuring beautiful summer flowers, fragrant citrus fruits and a touch of spearmint. The wine is described as ‘breathtaking’.

These notes suggest the character of the 1976 vintage: a wine with fresh, nutty Riesling aromas, ripe peach fruit, spicy herbal notes and perfectly integrated acidity – at just under 50 years old, an impressive testament to the ageing potential of great Mosel Rieslings.

6. Market prices and availability

The 1976 Avelsbacher Hammerstein Riesling Auslese is now extremely rare and only available sporadically from specialist retailers or at auctions. Prices vary depending on the condition of the bottle:

At auctions, the wine occasionally appears in collectors’ lots – for example, a lot containing a bottle of1976 Avelsbacher Hammerstein Auslesewas auctioned at Bonhams alongside other rarities .

7. Classification and Conclusion

The Staatliche Weinbaudomäne Trier – Avelsbacher Hammerstein Riesling Auslese 1976 is a testament to the great art of Mosel winemaking from one of the most significant vintages of the 20th century. The estate itself looks back on a history spanning over 125 years as a model Prussian vineyard – an institution that set new standards in the research into modern viticultural methods. The Avelsbacher Hammersteinvineyard , with its steep slate slopes and the estate’s exclusive ownership, offers ideal conditions for age-worthy Rieslings of great elegance.

With an alcohol content of just 8% and a ‘Auslese’ classification, this wine embodies the classic style of Mosel Rieslings from decades past: fruit, acidity and minerality in perfect harmony. The available tasting notes from neighbouring vintages suggest a wonderfully matured, complex and still fresh wine.

For collectors and connoisseurs of great German Rieslings, the 1976 Avelsbacher Hammerstein is a rare gem – a bottle that, if stored well, still promises enjoyment even after almost five decades. With prices around 100 euros, it is comparatively affordablecompared to other top Rieslings from the 1976 vintage (which can easily cost several hundred or even a thousand euros) – a stroke of luck for anyone fortunate enough to acquire a bottle.