Family winery on the Ruwer: Riesling and Burgundy varieties from steep vineyards on both sides of the Ruwer, in family ownership since 1803.
Weingut Karlsmühle – Inhaber Simon Geiben
Mertesdorf-Lorenzhof (54318) · approx. 15 ha of vineyardsNew on Amplifa
About the Winery
The Weingut Karlsmühle in Mertesdorf/Lorenzhof on the Ruwer near Trier is a family winery that has been in the possession of the Geiben family since 1803 and has been run by winemaker Simon Geiben since 2025. On around 15 hectares in sloping to steep sites on both sides of the Ruwer, mainly Riesling (about 90 %) are cultivated, along with Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Dornfelder, Müller-Thurgau and Elbling. As the only winery on the Ruwer, it manages vineyards on both sides of the river, including the Kaseler Nies'chen, Kaseler Kehrnagel, Kaseler Timpert and Lorenzhöfer sites. The steep slate slopes are largely worked by hand; alongside selective grape harvesting, cellar technology is one of the quality-determining factors. Sparkling wine is produced using the traditional bottle-fermentation method with long yeast ageing. The site includes the winery with tasting room and sales as well as the Hotel Karlsmühle.
- Site
- Mertesdorf
- Processes
- Viticulture / wine production (winery, selective grape harvesting, cellar technology, bottle, Wine sales (online shop and direct from the estate), Wine tastings, Events, Personal consultation, Hotel/restaurant (Hotel Karlsmühle, separate business)
- Materials
- Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Dornfelder, Müller-Thurgau, Elbling
- Certificates
- State Honorary Prize for Viticulture (9×, 1989–2002), Chamber of Commerce award medals at the State Quality Awards
- Founded
- 1803
- Industries
- Viticulture (Mosel, Ruwer district), Gastronomy/Hotels
- 01
Viticulture in steep slate sites
- 02
Selective grape harvesting
- 03
Cellar technology and vinification
- 04
Bottle fermentation (sparkling wine)
- 05
Bottling
- 06
Sales (shop, direct from the estate, tastings, events)
Grape Varieties
Riesling
The winery's main grape variety from steep slate sites on the Ruwer, shaping its mineral style.
Pinot Blanc
Fresh, approachable white wine for light cuisine.
Pinot Gris
Soft, rounded white wine with aromas of pear, apple and honeydew melon.
Sauvignon Blanc
Fresh white wine with aromas of gooseberry, apple and citrus.
Pinot Noir
Red grape variety for fuller-bodied wines and rosé production.
Dornfelder
Red grape variety from the steep Ruwer sites.
Müller-Thurgau
Supplementary white grape variety in the variety mix.
Elbling
Traditional grape variety of the Mosel region, cultivated as a supplement.
Sites
Mertesdorf-Lorenzhof
DEWinery, cellar, tasting room, sales; Hotel Karlsmühle (separate business)
- Materials
- Riesling, Burgundy varieties, rosé, sparkling wine
- Rock cellar
Wines
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viticulture / wine production (winery, selective grape harvesting, cellar technology, bottleFood production (not an industrial manufacturing process) | – | – | – | – | Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Rosé (Lorenzhöfer), Sauvignon Blanc, Sparkling wine, Müller-Thurgau, Dornfelder, Elbling |
Additional services
Quality and Awards
The wines are regularly awarded at the State Wine and Sparkling Wine Quality Awards; from 1989 to 2002 the winery received the State Honorary Prize for Viticulture nine times. Renowned wine guides such as Gault Millau, Eichelmann, Feinschmecker and Wein-Plus (four out of five stars, as of 2009) have rated the winery positively.
| Evidence | Mertesdorf-Lorenzhof |
|---|---|
| State Honorary Prize for Viticulture (9×, 1989–2002) | |
| Chamber of Commerce award medals at the State Quality Awards |
History
- 371
Ausonius mentions mills on the Ruwer in his poem 'Mosella'; archaeological finds at the Karlsmühle point to a Roman sawmill – the oldest north of the Alps.
- 1325
The mill passes from private ownership to the Himmerod Abbey as a gift.
- 1457
The mill passes to the St. Maximin Abbey in Trier.
- 1789
Johann Karls marries the daughter of the lessee Schipper (name 'Schippersmühle').
- 1803
Johann Karls acquires the mill upon the dissolution of St. Maximin Abbey; beginning of family ownership and viticulture (Lorenzhöfer Felslay and Mäuerchen sites, later Kaseler Kehrnagel and Kaseler Nies'chen).
- 1889
Johann Geiben marries Katharina Karls and comes to the mill.
- 1955
The milling operations are shut down – the end of the more than 1,600-year-old milling tradition.
- 1979
Hotel extension built while preserving the 18th-century exterior façade.
- 1989–2002
Nine times State Honorary Prize for Viticulture.
- 1996
Peter Geiben takes over the Karlsmühle.
- 2005
Riesling wines from the 2003/2004 vintages awarded six gold, three silver and one bronze Chamber of Commerce award medals.
- 2009
The wine guide Wein-Plus awards the winery four out of five stars.
- 2025
Simon Geiben runs the viticulture of the Karlsmühle.