Clemens Busch

Anyone walking through the majestic steep slopes of the Pündericher Marienburg today can hardly believe that these vineyards were threatened with decline in the 1980s. While many winegrowers were abandoning their difficult-to-grow steep slopes at the time, Clemens Busch recognised the extraordinary potential of these barren slate slopes. With visionary foresight and tireless dedication, he built up his vineyard parcel by parcel - today one of the most fascinating addresses for Riesling in the world.

The renaissance of the historic single vineyards

The history of the winery is closely linked to the rediscovery of the historic individual vineyards. When land consolidation in the 1970s brought the various parcels together under the name Marienburg, Busch preserved the knowledge of the different terroirs. He works out the characteristics of each individual site with meticulous precision. The Rothenpfad, with its rare red slate, produces wines of particular flavour. The Felsenterrasse, Busch's declared favourite, with its massive grey slate, demands the highest level of winemaking skill. And the Fahrlay terraces delight connoisseurs with their smoky minerality.

Biodynamic viticulture as the key to terroir

Busch began converting to organic viticulture back in 1984 - a pioneer of his time. The complete renunciation of herbicides and synthetic fertilisers, the use of herbal teas to strengthen the vines and the promotion of biodiversity are not fashionable trends for him, but basic requirements for authentic terroir wines. The old, partially ungrafted vines reach depths of up to eight metres and thus tap into the mineral complexity of the slate soils. This deep rooting is also increasingly proving to be an important buffer against climatic extremes.

Precision in the cellar: the art of minimal intervention

Vinification follows the principle of respectful accompaniment. The wines ferment spontaneously and without additives in centuries-old Mosel barrels, many of which come from Rita's father's workshop. The long maturation on the fine lees - often 12 to 24 months - gives the wines additional complexity and ageing potential. Even with noble sweet wines, the addition of sulphur is kept to a minimum. This restrained cellar philosophy allows the different terroirs to develop their characteristic signature.

A portfolio of impressive depth

The range of wines reflects the geological diversity of Marienburg. The basic wines "vom roten Schiefer", "vom grauen Schiefer" and "vom blauen Schiefer" already offer a fascinating insight into the different terroirs. This terroir character reaches its peak in the Grosses Gewächsen from Fahrlay, Falkenlay and Rothenpfad. Especially the reserve wines and rarities such as the Felsterrasse impressively demonstrate the extraordinary ageing potential of these Rieslings. With the experimental "(alter)native", the winery also shows its innovative side without compromising its principles.

Today, Clemens Busch is leading the winery into the future together with Rita and son Johannes. Their wines are living testimony to a philosophy that combines respect for nature, precise craftsmanship and a deep understanding of the terroir. They impressively demonstrate that the Moselle is one of the world's great wine regions - not despite, but precisely because of its challenging steep slopes and barren slate soils.

The Busch family's winemaking expertise is also being continued across borders in the next generation. Florian, the youngest son of the family, has been building his own biodynamic winery with his partner Paola Ponsich since 2018. The domaine Flo Busch in the Languedoc region of southern France produces biodynamic wines from grape varieties typical of the region, such as Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan.