Weingut Franzen

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Country of Origin: Germany
Location: Bremm, Mosel Terraces
People: Angelina & Killian Franzen, Owners

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Angelina and Kilian Franzen farm some of the most extreme vineyards in Germany, if not the world.

The Mosel Terraces (Lower Mosel) form a dramatic landscape distinct from the more famous Middle Mosel. Here, steep slate slopes rise directly from the river, creating a unique microclimate that has supported viticulture since Roman times. The hand-built terraces, which give the region its name, are essential. They make viticulture possible on these sheer inclines, retain warmth, moderate diurnal shifts, and guide vine roots deep into the slope.

The village of Bremm lies about midway between Bernkastel and Winningen, at a sharp bend in the Mosel River where the Bremmer Calmont rises more than 1,300 feet above the north bank. Stretching 1.2 miles, the Bremmer Calmont—once called mons calidus, or “hot mountain,” by the Romans—forms a south-facing natural amphitheater of oxidized red slate and quartzite that stores heat and reflects light. It is one of the world’s steepest vineyard sites, with sections steeper than 65 degrees. Historically, these vineyards yielded some of Germany’s most prized Rieslings. But after World War II, many parcels were abandoned due to the extreme difficulty of farming slopes that cannot be accessed by machines. Everything must be done by hand. To work here is truly a calling.

By the 1980s, much of the Calmont had been abandoned. That began to change when Ulrich Franzen, Kilian’s father, took on the daunting task of recultivation. It became his life’s mission to reclaim and restore this historic site (read more under Estate History). Tragically, Ulrich passed away in 2010. Kilian and Angelina, then students at Geisenheim, returned home to carry on his vision.

Childhood sweethearts turned business partners, Kilian and Angelina rebuilt and redefined the estate while honoring Ulrich’s legacy. Today, they are among the leading voices of the Mosel Terraces. Their work is grounded in instinct, commitment, and a deep connection to the land. Because so little wine is produced from the Calmont, the site remains relatively unknown, even among Riesling connoisseurs. Through dedication and heart, the Franzens have helped reestablish it as one of the most exciting terroirs in the Mosel.

They now farm more than 10 hectares, including 5 hectares in the Bremmer Calmont. Key sites include:
• Fachkaul (1.8 ha), their most prized section of the Calmont.
• Neefer Frauenberg, where 60–90-year-old vines dig into weathered gray slate.
• Kloster Stuben, a lower, sandier site ideal for the early-ripening heritage Elbling grape.

Riesling is the main focus, with small plantings of Elbling and Pinot varieties.

The Calmont’s oxidized red slate and intense exposure yield bold, structured Rieslings with power and salinity. The rocky soils warm quickly and retain heat, and the steep aspect promotes full ripening. The vines’ roots must reach deep for limited water, leading to low yields and small berries. The result is muscular, concentrated wines with pronounced minerality. Frauenberg contributes fruit and finesse, while Kloster Stuben adds early-drinking charm. All vineyard work is done by hand. Machines are impossible on these slopes, and many vines are still trained to single stakes. Soil work, canopy management, and pruning are adapted each year with great sensitivity to the vintage and shifting climate.

Vinification at Franzen is low-intervention, intuitive, and deeply patient. Grapes are foot-tread, followed by 2–4 hours of maceration before gentle pressing. Fermentations are spontaneous, slow, and guided by the wine itself, not by a timeline. Some wines ferment for over a year. Their “Zeit” bottling was born from such an extended fermentation and has since become a signature cuvée. All wines go through malolactic fermentation, a key element of their style. The wines are typically dry, textured, and intensely mineral, with striking freshness and depth. Extended lees aging, minimal sulfites, and no fining reflect their commitment to honest, site-driven winemaking.

Estate History
The Franzen family has deep roots in Bremm, with generations of viticultural ties to the region. Kilian Franzen’s grandparents once owned small parcels in the legendary Calmont. It was Ulrich Franzen who dreamed of restoring these impossibly steep slopes to their former glory. When Ulrich took over the family estate in the early 1980s, he focused on drier, lower-acid wines and became deeply committed to preserving the dramatic, terraced vineyards of the Lower Mosel.

In 1999, Ulrich began an ambitious project to reunify and revive the fractured Calmont. Due to Napoleonic inheritance laws, the land had been divided among hundreds of owners. Ulrich spent three years tracking down 112 parcel holders—in places as far-flung as Australia, China, and the U.S.—and successfully acquired their plots. The result was a contiguous, south-facing amphitheater of oxidized slate in the heart of the Calmont, among the steepest vineyards in Europe. Ulrich and a small team cleared and replanted the site by hand, planting nearly 8,000 Riesling vines and installing a monorail to haul materials up the mountain. In 2010, he died in a tractor accident before he could see the full result of his labor.

Still in the middle of their studies at Geisenheim, Kilian and Angelina returned to take over the estate. They were thrust into responsibility with little preparation but immense heart. Embracing the challenge with reverence for Ulrich’s vision, they continue the work today with pride. The Franzens are preserving one of Germany’s most culturally and viticulturally important vineyard sites while raising their family in the heart of the Mosel Terraces.

Angelina is from Bullay, two villages downstream from Bremm, and her winemaking roots run just as deep. She comes from a long line of vintners. Her father owns a winery nearby, and her father’s cousin is Rita Busch, who is married to renowned grower Clemens Busch. Angelina had already chosen to study winemaking before fully realizing the influence of her family in German viticulture.