The Clemens Busch winery is located in Pünderich, where the Moselle winds its way through a narrow bend and the slopes drop steeply down to the river, and is run by the estate's namesake, partner Rita and son Johannes.
Almost exclusively Riesling is cultivated on an area of 18 hectares - with particular care and in harmony with nature. As early as 1984, the Buschs switched to controlled organic viticulture, dispensing with chemical-synthetic pesticides, herbicides and mineral fertilisers.
The work in the vineyard is characterised by a great deal of manual labour, a high level of selection and a clear focus on the health of each individual vine. To protect the plants, some of which are 110 years old, teas and extracts are made from nettle or horsetail. The "team" also includes a small herd of forest goats, which work naturally to prevent scrub encroachment on the slopes.
During vinification, Busch relies on spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts from the cellar and grape material. The wine is matured mainly in large oak barrels. Additives and aids are taboo and mechanical stress is kept to a minimum.
The fact that important movements are synchronised with the phases of the moon is a reference to the winery's anthroposophical orientation. The Clemens Busch winery belongs to the respekt-BIODYN group. These are winegrowers who have committed themselves to high biodynamic standards.
photos: Markus Bassler, Andreas Durst
