From Sleeping Beauty's Slumber to Renaissance
In the year 2000 — exactly at the turn of the millennium — Andreas Adam took over his grandparents' estate in Neumagen-Dhron. What he saw: the potential. Especially in the Dhroner Hofberg, which had already been ranked among the best vineyards of the Mosel in the Prussian classification of 1868 — and in the 1950s and 60s graced the tables of the finest restaurants. Then came the rural exodus. The Hofberg terraces became overgrown.
Andreas and his sister Barbara, who joined in 2013 after Geisenheim and stints at top estates, have changed that. Stone by stone, parcel by parcel, in painstaking work, he has brought the Hofberg back into the consciousness of the wine world. Today the Dhroner Hofberg is once again recognised internationally as what it once was: one of the truly great vineyards of the Mosel. Their admission to the VDP with the 2020 vintage was the formal confirmation of what connoisseurs had long known.
The Vineyards — Slate, Steep Slopes, History
A.J. Adam farms around five hectares across 45 different parcels. Over 50% of the vines stand in Einzelpfahlerziehung — the traditional Mosel single-pole training — many are 30 to 65 years old, some even ungrafted, meaning not grafted onto American rootstock. That is rare today and the prerequisite for a depth all of its own in the glass.
The main vineyards are the VDP.GROSSEN LAGEN Dhroner Hofberg, Dhroner Häs'chen (a monopole site since 2014, in the estate's sole ownership), the Piesporter Goldtröpfchen and the youngest jewel in the collection, the Wintricher Ohligsberg. Four different vineyards, four different voices.
In the Cellar — Let the Vineyard Speak
Andreas and Barbara work uncompromisingly toward the terroir. Spontaneous fermentation with the grapes' own yeasts, ageing in classic 1000-litre Fuder or Halbfuder, long maturation on the fine lees, no filtration, no fining, no Süssreserve. What lands in the glass should belong to the vineyard — not to the winemaker.
The result are Rieslings that often appear closed in their youth — and bloom brilliantly with maturation. Classic Mosel school: clarity, finesse, lightness, depth.
What We Particularly Value
At Wein & Nielsen we carry one of the most complete A.J. Adam selections anywhere. Four VDP.GROSSEN GEWÄCHSE — Hofberg, Häs'chen, Goldtröpfchen and Ohligsberg — the complete dry vineyard vertical. In addition the famous Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese wines from the Großen Lagen — fruity-sweet Mosel classics in collector quality. The Hofberg Réserve, the Im Pfarrgarten feinherb, the village wines from Dhron and Piesport, the excellent white wines, and as something special the young Spätburgunder and Pinot Noir - Rosé and red wine - with which Andreas and Barbara are building a second line.
A Personal Connection
Whoever visits Andreas and Barbara in Dhron senses immediately what makes this estate distinctive: the stillness with which work is done here, the respect for every single parcel, and the feeling that every bottle is the result of long, patient, almost meditative work. The Mosel from its purest and most beautiful side.
Our Selection — Direct from the Estate
At Wein & Nielsen you'll find the A.J. Adam range direct from the estate — from VDP.Gutswein through Ortsweine to the Grossen Gewächse, plus the fruity-sweet classics from Kabinett over Spätlese to Auslese. A depth through which you can truly come to know the Mosel. Hand-selected, ex-winery prices.
