Morscheid, 16.09.2004.
In September 2004 the wine-growing estate Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt presents its exclusively owned wine location for the first time with a new label. In future, bottles from the Josephshöfer wine location (vintage 2003) will carry a historical label that is said to have originated between 1870 and 1880. A client gave the original to the Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt wine-growing estate. It is likely to date back to the wine-growing estate?s own first traditional label.
Four traditional sayings are inscribed on the label:
Say what is true (Red, was wahr ist) is shown with a picture of a hunter who is closely listening to somebody telling a tale.
Drink what is clear (Trink, was klar ist) shows a merry wine drinker who is just lifting his glass to the light.
Eat what is properly cooked (Iss, was gar ist) shows a family at a set table and
Appreciate what is rare (Lieb, was rar ist) is illustrated by a young woman whose lover is kneeling in front of her.
In future all wines from the Josephshöfer wine location will show this theme. ?We are proud of being able to present this special wine with an out of the ordinary label to our customers. The historical theme is unique and very unusual. As opposed to the numerous modern clear cut labels on the international market we believe in traditional trends? says Annegret Reh-Gartner.
The reduction of the over 120-year-old label almost to stamp size (the Kesselstattian Mauritius), and the redesigning by the Frankfurt designer Katharina Reh-Tessmann, emphasizes the exclusiveness of the wine.
History of the Josephshof
Today?s Josephshof still known by the Graachians as ?Merteshof? was referred to by Christian von Stramberg, a leading authority among wine authors, as being: ?an opulently welcoming and festively cosy location extending along the right Mosel banks?. For almost a hundred years, it belonged to the Trier abbey, Saint Martin from which it had received its name.
In 1803, Matthias Joseph Hayn from Trier, who was an estate buyer of the French period, acquired it for the ridiculously low price of 247 guilders. He gave the magnificent wine estate the name Josephshof.
His son-in-law Mohr sold the estate in 1858 for 58,000 thaler to the count of Kesselstatt.
The Josephshof was one of the Trier Abbey?s most precious properties and domicile of the ?Probstes? chosen by the Abbey.
Archbishop Hillin, who was probably once a priest at Graach, reported in 1168 that the holy Magnerich gave the estate to the monastery. Magnerich died 596. The abbey was first established in 975 by the archbishop Theoderisch. During this period the estates of Sivenich, Irsch, Ockfen, Graach and Ürzig were said to have been the backbone of the monastery estate administration.
Josephshof attributes its excellent reputation as a wine growing estate to its vineyards, which are located in Graach?s most choicest areas. As early as 1830 Christian von Stramberg noted that the Josephshof had become: ?a model for the Mosel area, displaying a wine that is unequalled by other Mosel wines?.
Today, Josephshof provides workplaces and a home for the mentally ill (DRK) at the former monastery.
The Josephshof; an Exclusively Owned Wine Location
The wine location Josephshöfer that is solely owned by the wine-growing estate Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt has an area of 4.8 ha. Belonging to the district of Graach it lies between the ?Wehlener Sonnenuhr? and the ?Graacher Domprobst?.
The steep slope, which faces south with an inclination of 60 to 70 degrees, lies up to 180 metres above MSL. It possesses a deeply weathered, grey soil originating from Devonian slate. The soil has a high fine fraction content and is for Mosel conditions a relatively heavy soil. The result is a rich, aromatic wine with an astounding potential to mature. Quite typical is often the unmistakeable peach bouquet with a tinge of wild herbs and earthy, piquant components.
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