Germany ( Selbach-Oster, Uferallee 23, 54492 Zeltingen )
The river, which winds in tight loops through the hilly landscape, where the Celts and Romans already cultivated wine 2000 years ago, gave the area its name. We live and work in the oldest wine-growing area in Germany and in the largest steep-slope growing area in the world. The orientation of the vineyards creates a unique micro-climate. Together with the prehistoric slate soils, a unique characteristic of the wines is created here.
At Weingut Selbach-Oster we can trace wine-growing in the family back to the year 1600. Our steep slopes are located on some of the best vineyard land in the heart of the Mosel: Zeltingen(Sonnenuhr, Schlossberg and Himmelreich), Wehlen(Sonnenuhr), Graacher (Domprobst and Himmel-reich)and Bernkastel (Badstube).Weingut Selbach-Oster is ranked by the German press as one of the best three dozen producers in all of Germany and amongst the top ten in the Mosel. In the international press, Selbach-Oster is rated corre-spondingly high (Hugh Johnson, Robert Parker, Wine Spectator) and regularly ranks amongst the top two dozen German estates.Our philosophy is to make elegant, crisp, low-alcohol but full-flavoured wines which the Mosel has become famous for. Our ideal is to make wines that re-flect the “parents” of the wine, i.e. the mineral-rich slate soil and ripe, juicy Riesling fruit. In order to do that, it takes excellent vineyards, careful vineyard and yield management, very selective handpicking and, if necessary, making three passes through the same vineyard. The family takes great pride in making fine, handcrafted wines and considers their reputation as an obligation to strive for excellent quality in every bottle, every vintage.
Johannes Selbach comes from a family of wine producers and shippers in the heart of Germany’s famed Mosel wine growing region.Growing up amongst wines and vines, Mr. Selbach has first hand experience both in producing and marketing wines. Learning and helping at home during his teenage years he studied oenology at the state viticultural research and experimental institute in Trier.He graduated from the business school of the University of Cologne in 1986. In 1984 he enrolled at the Graduate School of Business at Penn State University, conducting research for his thesis on the marketing of German wines in the United States. Mr. Selbach worked for the German Wine Information Bureau, New York, in 1985,parts of 1986 and in 1987. In 1988, Mr. Selbach returned to Germany, taking over responsibilities in the family business, Weingut Selbach-Oster and Weinkellerei J. & H. Selbach.In July 1993 Weingut Selbach-Oster was handed over to him by his late father Hans Selbach. Weingut Selbach-Oster consistently receives top reviews in German and international publica- tions. It is ranked amongst the “Top 100” in Germany and 5 stars in R. Parkers compendium “The World’s Greatest Wineries”. Aside from further developing Weingut Selbach-Oster, Mr.Selbach and his family continue to grow the reputation of their négociant or wine merchant house, J. & H. Selbach, as a top source for some of the finest wines from Germany. Mr. Selbach has been married to his wife Barbara since 1989,who has been actively managing the business together with him. Ever since. They have two children, Hannah and Sebastian, both of whom have joined the family business after completing their academic education in 2018 and 2019. This ensures the continuation of the Selbach family’s wine tradition which is documented back to AD 1600.