Family winery in Nittel on the Upper Moselle: wines and sparkling wines from shell limestone since 1477.

Weingut Hubertus M. Apel

NittelNew on Amplifa

1477Viticulture in Nittel since

40 haVineyard area

300,000 bottlesProduction per year

4th generationAt the helm since 2016

The Winery

Weingut Hubertus M. Apel is a family winery in Nittel on the Upper Moselle that has been active in viticulture since 1477. Around 300,000 bottles of wine and sparkling wine are produced each year from 40 hectares of vineyards in Nittel, Wellen, Rehlingen, Wincheringen, Sehndorf, Perl and Ayl. The main grape varieties are Elbling (30 percent), Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris (20 percent each), as well as Auxerrois, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay. The vineyards stand on shell limestone soils in steep south-southwest-facing sites; insecticides and botryticides are dispensed with, and instead herbal, flower and grass seedings are used to strengthen the vineyards. The sparkling wines mature on the lees for at least 36 months, partly in an underground tunnel at a constant nine degrees Celsius. In addition to the winery, the business includes a wine hotel, a wine restaurant, a wine shop and an online store.

Site: Nittel
Processes: Wine hotel/guesthouse, Wine restaurant with regional cuisine, Wine shop, Online wine store, Events/wine tastings, Guided tours of the estate
Materials: Elbling, Spätburgunder, Grauburgunder, Auxerrois, Weißburgunder, Chardonnay, Riesling
Certificates: Der Feinschmecker – best wineries in Germany 2026, Eichelmann Weinguide 2026, Vinum Weinguide 2026
Founded: 1477
Industries: Viticulture, Wine trade, Gastronomy, Hospitality

01
Viticulture in our own steep-slope vineyards
02
Hand picking and vineyard management
03
Pressing and vinification in the cellar
04
Sparkling wine maturation on the lees (at least 36 months)
05
Distribution via wine shop, online wine store, restaurant

Grape Varieties & Vinification

Elbling

Main grape variety on around 30 percent of the area, among other things as a dry Bone Dry and as sparkling wine.

Spätburgunder

Around 20 percent of the vineyard area.

Grauburgunder

Around 20 percent of the vineyard area, partly aged in barrique.

Auxerrois

White wine variety from shell limestone, vinified dry.

Weißburgunder

Complementary Burgundy variety in the range.

Chardonnay

Aged, among other things, twelve months in barriques from François Frères.

Riesling

From the Saar, e.g. Ayler Kupp Spätlese.

Location

Nittel

Winery, wine hotel, wine restaurant, wine shop

Materials: Elbling, Spätburgunder, Grauburgunder, Auxerrois, Chardonnay

Wine cellar
Underground tunnel cellar for sparkling wine, 9 °C
Wine shop (new building 2026)
Wine hotel
Wine restaurant

Wines & Sparkling Wines

**Elbling Bone Dry**Dry · Shell limestone

**Auxerrois dry**White wine · Shell limestone

**Grauer Burgunder from shell limestone**White wine · Mosel

Inside the production

Shell limestone cliffs above the vineyards

Industries

ViticultureWine tradeGastronomyHospitality

Additional services

Wine hotel/guesthouseWine restaurant with regional cuisineWine shopOnline wine storeEvents/wine tastingsGuided tours of the estate

Reference customers

Der Feinschmecker (award: best wineries in Germany 2026)Eichelmann Weinguide 2026Vinum Weinguide 2026

Ratings

The estate's wines and sparkling wines are rated in leading wine guides such as Eichelmann (2026) and Vinum (2026); Der Feinschmecker counts the winery among the best wineries in Germany 2026.

Evidence	Nittel
Der Feinschmecker – best wineries in Germany 2026
Eichelmann Weinguide 2026
Vinum Weinguide 2026

History

1477
The Apel family begins viticulture in Nittel.
1988
Harald and Hubert Apel take over the business and build it up over 30 years into a modern Mosel winery.
2016
The fourth generation – Philip, Johannes and Matthias Apel – takes over the management from Harald Apel.
2026
Award from Der Feinschmecker (best wineries in Germany 2026); opening of the new wine shop planned for spring.