Joh Jos Prum

History of Domaine Joh. Jos. Prüm

The Prüm family has been present in Wehlen since 1156, but the estate as we know it today has its roots in the early 19th century with Sebastian Alois Prüm, the founder of the house S.A. Prüm. It was his brother Jodocus who erected the famous sundial (Sonnenuhr) in 1842 on a rocky spur of the Wehlen vineyard, giving its name to the legendary lieu-dit of the Wehlener Sonnenuhr. In 1911, upon the death of Mathias Prüm, the family estate was divided among his children, and Johann Josef Prüm then founded the house that would bear his name.

In fragile health, Johann Josef handed over the management to his son Sebastian in 1920, who went on to build the estate's worldwide reputation. Upon his death in 1969, his son Dr Manfred Prüm took over and perpetuated the house's inimitable style. Today, Dr Katharina Prüm — a lawyer turned winemaker and representative of the fourth generation — leads the estate in keeping with more than a century of tradition, as a committed member of the association of Germany's great estates, the VDP.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Domaine Joh. Jos. Prüm

The J.J. Prüm vineyard extends over some twenty hectares at the heart of the Middle Mosel, on the most prestigious slopes of the villages of Wehlen, Graach, Zeltingen and Bernkastel. Unlike the cooler valleys of the Saar and the Ruwer, the Middle Mosel — narrow and winding — yields riper, fruitier rieslings that nonetheless remain refined, chiselled and electric.

The jewel of the estate is the Wehlener Sonnenuhr, of which the house owns approximately five hectares, on deep soils of decomposed Devonian grey slate, with slopes reaching up to 70% and an ideal south, south-west exposure. Alongside it, the Graacher Himmelreich, with slightly deeper soils, the Zeltinger Sonnenuhr and the Bernkasteler Badstube complete an exceptional heritage. What unites these grands crus is their steepness, their slate and the precision they impart to wines planted 100% in riesling.

Winemaking at Domaine Joh. Jos. Prüm

The J.J. Prüm style rests on an assured classicism and work of great patience. The grapes are harvested in successive passes, vineyard by vineyard, and classified according to the Prädikat system, which ranks the wines not by grape variety — since it is always riesling — but by vineyard site and degree of ripeness, from Kabinett to Auslese and beyond.

True to Mosel tradition, the estate produces no dry riesling and remains committed to off-dry and sweet styles, low in alcohol and underpinned by a vibrant acidity. The wines of J.J. Prüm are known for a slight reduction and a touch of gas in their youth — a house signature — which integrate over time to reveal a unique harmony, finesse and depth after several years of cellaring.

The Cuvées of Domaine Joh. Jos. Prüm

The Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling is the estate's flagship cuvée, from the grand cru that bears the sundial. Offered in Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese, it captivates with its remarkable structure, aromas of ripe stone fruits, fine minerality and great length. The Kabinett is crystalline and delicate, the Spätlese more textured, and the style gains in complexity as one moves up the ripeness hierarchy.

The Graacher Himmelreich Riesling comes from the neighbouring vineyard site, with slightly deeper soils, and is often more generous and riper in its youth without losing any of its structure. Also offered in Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese, it is one of the estate's two flagship wines, prized for its ample fruit and excellent ageing potential.

The Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling expresses another facet of the estate, with textural nuances and drainage characteristics particular to this slope. Available across the various Prädikat levels, it delivers a precise, fresh and finely fruited riesling, faithful to the house's filigree elegance.

The Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling, from a grand cru of Bernkastel, is often one of the most accessible entry points into the estate's range, particularly in Kabinett. Lively and mineral, it combines directness with delicacy, and perfectly illustrates the off-dry style that has made J.J. Prüm's reputation.

The Bernkasteler Lay Riesling occasionally rounds out the range with an elegant, taut riesling from a renowned slate slope in Bernkastel, in the same spirit of purity and finesse.

The Auslese Goldkapsel and Lange Goldkapsel cuvées represent a superior selection within the Auslese tier, identified by their gold capsule and produced in the finest years from the ripest bunches, often botrytised. Floral, deep and sometimes honeyed, they reach peaks of complexity while retaining a remarkable balance, and rank among the estate's most sought-after bottles.

The exceptional sweet wines — Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese and Eiswein — are produced only in ideal vintages and in tiny quantities. Made from overripe, dried or vine-frozen berries, they offer a spectacular concentration of sugar, magnified by the incisive acidity of the Mosel, resulting in rare wines of near-infinite longevity that crown the house's hierarchy.