Joh. Jos. Prüm Winery - Tradition and elegance on the Moselle
The Joh. Jos. Prüm winery is one of the most renowned and traditional wineries in Germany. For generations, it has been producing Riesling wines of the highest quality and unmistakable character on the steep slopes of the Middle Moselle, particularly in the famous single vineyards Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Graacher Himmelreich and Bernkasteler Lay. The estate's wines are sought after worldwide and are characterised by the perfect balance between fruit, minerality and lively acidity.
History and family heritage
The roots of the winery go back to the early 19th century, when the Prüm family was first mentioned as winegrowers in Wehlen on the Moselle. However, the real breakthrough came with Johann Josef Prüm, who founded the winery under his name in 1911. His grandson, Dr Manfred Prüm, continued the legacy from the 1960s onwards and cemented the estate's reputation as one of the world's leading Riesling estates. Today, the winery is run by his daughter Katharina Prüm, who continues the tradition with modern refinements.
Terroir and vineyards
At the heart of Joh. Jos. Prüm are the steep slate slopes of the Moselle, which provide ideal conditions for Riesling grapes. The most famous site is the Wehlener Sonnenuhr, a south-west facing steep slope with blue Devonian slate. This soil stores heat, reflects the sunlight and gives the wines a distinctive minerality and racy acidity.
In addition to the Wehlener Sonnenuhr, the Graacher Himmelreich and Bernkasteler Lay vineyards are also among the estate's top sites. The old, ungrafted vines (some over 80 years old) are deeply rooted in the slate and produce concentrated, long-lasting wines.
Wine philosophy and vinification
Joh. Jos. Prüm stands for traditional but precise winemaking. The grapes are harvested by hand and only healthy, fully ripe grapes are used. Fermentation takes place in large, neutral vats (old wooden vats) in order to emphasise the pure fruit and terroir without the disturbing influence of wood.
The wines mature for a long time on the fine lees, which gives them additional complexity and texture. The Spätlese and Auslese wines are particularly well known, and in outstanding years are processed into legendary Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese and ice wines.
The wines - elegance and longevity
The Rieslings from Joh. Jos. Prüm are characterised by their clear fruit, lively acidity and deep minerality. Young wines show flavours of green apple, peach and citrus, while nuanced notes of petrol, honey and ripe stone fruit develop with maturity.
Kabinett: Light, sparkling and full of freshness, ideal as an aperitif.
Spätlese: More intense, with more sweetness and fullness, but always elegant.
Auslese: Rich, with exotic fruit flavours and great ageing potential.
Beerenauslese & TBA: Rare, noble sweet treasures with almost infinite ageing potential.
Cult status and international recognition
Joh. Jos. Prüm is one of the few German wineries that are recognised worldwide as absolute top producers. His wines are highly prized by collectors and connoisseurs and fetch high prices at auctions. The 1971, 1976, 1990 and 2005 vintages in particular are legendary and prove that Prüm Rieslings can age for decades.
Conclusion
The Joh. Jos. Prüm winery epitomises the essence of Mosel Riesling like no other: delicate, mineral and of timeless beauty. With every bottle, the wines tell of the unique combination of slate, river and centuries-old winemaking skills. They are an indispensable treasure for lovers of great white wines.
Here are some tasting notes on the wines of JJ Prüm:
Light amber colour, golden reflections, subtle bouquet with nuances of nougat and dried figs, candied oranges, a hint of Cointreau, ripe peach fruit and honey, incredibly multi-faceted bouquet. A perfect interplay of sweetness and acidity on the palate, complex and full-bodied, a wonderful interplay of fruity sweetness and salty slate minerality, creamy texture, yet never opulently harmonious and long-lasting, of timeless beauty, presenting true Riesling grace.
Suckling: Hard to believe that this nobly-sweet masterpiece was possible in 2022! Here is a very lush and creamy Auslese with incredible aromas of exotic fruit coulis plus a slew of tropical flowers. So much ripe papaya on the full-bodied palate! Fantastic concentration, creaminess and vitality right through the super-long and compact finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2030. 99/100
1. history & family
Founded: 1911 by Johann Josef Prüm (separation from the family winery S.A. Prüm).
Current management:
Dr Katharina Prüm (great-granddaughter of the founder) has managed the estate since the 2000s.
Manfred Prüm (her father) moulded the modern success.
Tradition: In family hands for over 100 years, without external investors.
2. vineyards & terroir
Vineyard area: ~20 hectares (small, but extremely exclusive).
Top single vineyard sites (all VDP.Große Lagen):
Wehlener Sonnenuhr (flagship, steep slate south-facing slope):
Soil: Blue Devonian slate, extremely mineralised.
Character: Peach, white flowers, racy acidity, decades of ageing potential.
Graacher Himmelreich (finer acidity than Sonnenuhr).
Bernkasteler Lay (rarer, more powerful).
Zeltinger Sonnenuhr (more fruit-orientated).
100 % Riesling - no other grape varieties.
3. wine portfolio & classification
Dry wines
VDP.Grosse Gewächse (GG):
Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling GG (from ~60 €).
Graacher Himmelreich Riesling GG.
Prädikat wines (legendary!)
Kabinett: Light, sparkling, perfect as an aperitif.
Spätlese: Balanced, fruity and mineral.
Auslese: Concentrated fruit, often storable for 30+ years.
Beerenauslese (BA) / Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA): Sweet jewels, extremely rare.
Eiswein: Only in perfect vintages.
Vintage highlights
1971, 1975, 1983, 1990, 2001, 2005, 2011, 2015, 2019 (cult vintages).
4. viticulture & philosophy
Minimal intervention:
Spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts.
Long maturation in barrels (traditional Mosel barrels).
Manual harvest: Strictest selection, often multiple harvests.
No artificial fining, no excessive technology.
5. international importance & awards
Parker ratings:
Multiple 100 points for TBAs (e.g. 1976 Wehlener Sonnenuhr TBA).
Comparisons:
Often cited with Egon Müller and Robert Weil as the "Holy Trinity of Riesling".
Cult status:
Wines are collected worldwide (auction prices up to €5,000/bottle for old TBAs).
6. special features & trivia
The "sundial":
The famous Wehlen sundial logo comes from a historic sundial in the vineyard.
"Prüm cork":
The wines tend to have reductive flavours when young (often need decanting).
Extreme longevity:
Cabernets from the 1950s are still drinkable today!
7. prices & availability
Entry-level wines (Kabinett): ~25-40 €.
GG & Spätlese: ~50-120 €.
BA/TBA: ~200-2,000 € (depending on vintage).
Auction rarities: Older vintages reach top prices.
J.J. Prüm stands for the essence of Mosel Riesling - delicate, mineral and irresistibly refined. If you want to taste one of the world's great Rieslings, you can't go past Prüm.
