Bischöfliches Priesterseminar - Wiltinger Kupp Riesling Spätlese dry 1979

Episcopal Seminary – Wiltinger Kupp Riesling Spätlese dry 1979: A Saar Riesling with a history

The 1979 Wiltinger Kupp Riesling Spätlese (dry) from the Episcopal Seminary in Trier is an exceptional wine that represents far more than just a drink – it is a living testament to German wine culture and centuries-old tradition. The Episcopal Seminary in Trier, whose viticultural roots date back to 1773, is one of the three owners of the renowned Trier Episcopal Vineyards, which, since their merger in 1966, have been producing wines of the highest quality from prime vineyard sites on the Moselle, Saar and Ruwer . With a vineyard area of around 120 hectares and an annual production of 620,000 bottles, they rank among the region’s most significant wineries, with Riesling being the undisputed main variety, accounting for 88 per cent .

The Wiltinger Kupp, one of the finest sites on the Saar, is a steep, south-east-facing slope whose soils consist of Devonian slate with a clay content . This geological feature, combined with ideal sun exposure, lends the Riesling grapes grown here their characteristic delicate fruitiness, elegance, finesse and pronounced minerality, which is evident in the wine as a subtle terroir-driven flavour . The vineyard is classified as a ‘Große Lage’ by the VDP and produces wines of exceptional clarity .

The 1979 vintage, which went down in wine history as the ‘frost year’, nevertheless produced wines of remarkable quality. The dry Spätlese version from the Episcopal Seminary is now a sought-after rarity, which, thanks to decades of careful ageing, has developed into a complex and multi-layered delight . Such a Riesling, matured for almost half a century, displays typical tertiary aromas of smoky and mineral notes, reminiscent of the characteristic slate of the Saar, combined with a lively acidity. The available literature on similar wines from this era describes a very mineral palate and a lovely, long finish .

The condition of these bottles is often described as exceptionally good, with high liquid levels and intact capsules – a crucial factor in the survival of such old wines . For collectors and connoisseurs of great German Rieslings, this wine offers a rare opportunity to experience a piece of authentic Saar Riesling history at its peak of maturity and to savour the quality of a house that, like few others, epitomises the tradition and excellence of German viticulture .