Wehlener Sonnenuhr

“Do it like the sundial—just show the cheerful hours!”

In the vineyards of the Mosel Valley, there are many beautiful and well-known sundials. Some of these date back to the 17th century. The world’s most famous vineyard sundial is probably the one in Wehlener Sonnenuhr, which proudly rises in the sunny slope opposite the wine village of Wehlen.

In 1842, the sundial in Wehlener Sonnenuhr was built by Jodocus Prüm, a scion of a still active Mosel wine dynasty. It initially served as a time orientation. At the turn of the century, it replaced the former and smaller place name Lammerterlay. On August 1913, Wehlener Sonnenuhr was first approved as an official site name. The original size was only 8 ha and was expanded to 40 ha in 1954. Today, Wehlener Sonnenuhr also includes old sites such as Wehlener Nonneberg and Lay. Visible from afar, it is the landmark of Wehlen and a symbol of Riesling culture on the Mosel.

Wehlener Sonnenuhr has a south- to southwest-facing slope and is located at an altitude of 110 to 195 meters above sea level. The mainly blue slate soil stores the heat during the day and equalises the temperature on colder nights, which ensures a ripening of the grapes even in cooler vintages. The Mosel also reflects sunlight onto the vines and carries the cold wind down the river.

The wines of Wehlener Sonnenuhr are always strong and elegant and have a fine, delicate fruit aroma. The precious Rieslings from this privileged site profit from a long time in bottle, which have a complexity and radiance that can rarely be found in the world.

Peculiarity of a Sundial

A closer look at Wehlen’s sundial reveals a peculiarity that makes it unmistakable. A number 7 will be searched in vain. Did the builders forget? No, because at seven o’clock in the morning or evening, the Wehlener Sonnenuhr is no longer irradiated by the sun and thus the number was simply omitted.