Whose *Wine* is it Anyway? Meet Dominik Meyer

Producer: Moselland

Regions: Mosel, Nahe, Rheinhessen, and Pfalz

Village: Bernkastel-Kues

Focus: Riesling

U.S. Importer: Various (Winebow, Halby Marketing Inc.)

Moselland’s dedication to its growers can be traced back to the 19th century when growers from around the Mosel joined to form small wine growing cooperatives. These groups originated out of economic necessity, with the idea that growers could work more efficiently by working together. Based in the heart of the Mosel Valley in Bernkastel-Kues, Moselland itself was founded in 1968 as a result of a merger between a few smaller sub-regional cooperatives.

In its earliest years, Moselland focused on its namesake, the Mosel region, spanning vineyards in the valleys of the rivers Mosel, Saar and Ruwer. The 21st century saw the cooperative expand beyond its home region to the Nahe, Pfalz, and Rheinhessen. Today, Moselland allows for small vineyard owners to benefit from the expertise and international reach of the cooperative. 

Winemaker Dominik Meyer’s roots are also in the Mosel. He was born and raised in a winemaking family in the small village of Wintrich in the Mosel River Valley, working for Moselland directly after graduating from secondary school as an apprentice. His entire career has been spent at Moselland, and in 2016, he was promoted to Head Winemaker.

While officially known as “Winemaker,” Meyer oversees much more at Moselland. He works with both the production and sales teams to determine the best taste profiles for its wines. Meyer also runs special winemaking projects, including managing Moselland’s Steep Slope program and single vineyard wine production.

Along with the winemaking team, Meyer sets the entire cooperative’s strategy and philosophy for production, which is then passed along to every grower and winemaker to create harmony across all of Moselland’s wines during each vintage.

Meyer’s passion for winemaking doesn’t stop at his role at Moselland. He received his Master’s of Viticulture in 2018, taking over his father’s small family winery shortly thereafter. He has also been a jury member at the Chamber of Agriculture since 2017, participating in official wine award tastings.

Moselland is the largest Riesling producer in Germany, with approximately 2,000 hectares dedicated to the variety. While Riesling dominates the majority of Moselland’s offerings, growers also cultivate Germany’s other celebrated grape varieties.

Moselland is synonymous with quality, and each and every one of its wine growers applies the best viticultural practices to produce the finest wines. This begins in the vineyard, with the growers consulted by experts in vineyard management from planting to harvest.

Once the grapes are delivered to the pressing stations set up next to the vineyards, Moselland’s highly qualified staff take over, using the most up-to-date equipment during the production and vinification process. Moselland’s viticultural team works with the growers from vineyard management to the selection of varieties and the implementation of specific quality programs, like the Steep Slope program Meyer oversees.

As one of the largest producers of Riesling in the world, the grape is the heart of Moselland’s production. The cooperative produces 2.5 million cases of Riesling annually, reflecting the distinctive taste of grapes grown on the steep slopes of the Mosel, the diverse soils of the Nahe, the sunny plains of the Pfalz, and the rolling hills of Rheinhessen. While a typical estate is likely to produce four or five different wines in a year, Moselland produces over 1,000 different wines, exported to more than 25 countries.

Just as the cooperative welcomes a diverse lineup of growers across the region, Moselland’s wines cater to consumers of all kinds. Whether a branded wine, control brand, or private label brand, each of Moselland’s wines exude the passion of the cooperative. This unique intersection between variety, approachability and quality has led to Moselland’s success, with its wines gaining national and international reputation over the years.

The collaborative spirit of Moselland continues past its winegrowers to partnerships with other wine companies. The well-known Clean Slate wine brand is the fruitful result of a partnership between Moselland and Winebow, a leading American importer of fine wines. Clean Slate began as a single Riesling bottling from grapes sourced from select vineyards throughout the Mosel and recently expanded to include Clean Slate Rosé, made from Pinot Noir from the Nahe.

From Riesling to Rosé, all of the Moselland’s offerings are unmistakable, boasting a fresh and lively flavor profile.