Weingut Ansgar Cluessereith in Trittenheim on the Mosel has been owned and operated by the family since its founding in 1670. But once again , it came to us through a “ Cellar Hand family “ connection. In charge of winemaking these days is founder Ansgar Cluesserath’s daughter Eva , who happens to be married to the 2014 Gault Millau Winemaker of the year Phillip Wittmann. Like Rheinhessen , Superstar Wittmann, Eva is a member of VDP a new German generation of winegrowers committed to traditional , ecologically sound viticulture practices as well as forward-looking methods. Some 97 % of the 3.9 hectare vineyard are planted to Riesling. The Cluesserath’s have ramped up their emphasis on canopy management for fruit, health and ripeness, and harvest all grapes by hand in several stages. Between crushing and pressing , the grapes are left on skins for 48 hours. The cool, damp cellar is the ideal setting for its 50 year old Fueder, the traditional round-bellied 1000 litres casks in which the must undergoes a slow, natural fermentation. Afterwards the wines are left on lees , receiving no treatment except a single filtration prior to bottling.