Weinkeller Vereinigte Hospitien

Useful Information

Location:	Vinothek Vereinigte Hospitien, Krahnenufer 19, 54290 Trier. (49.756918, 6.630576)
Open:	Vinothek: All year Mon-Fri 8-12:30, 13:30-16. Entdeckerführung: All year Wed, Fri 11. [2025]
Fee:	Vinothek: free. Entdeckerführung: Adults EUR 17.50, Children (7-15) EUR 6.50. [2025]
Classification:	Cellar
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:	D=60 min, Max=35.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Vereinigte Hospitien, Hrsg. (2022): Chronik der Vereinigten Hospitien in Trier ensch-verlag, Trier 2022, ISBN 978-3-00-073161-7
Address:	Stiftungsweingut Vereinigte Hospiten (Vinothek), Krahnenufer 19, 54290 Trier, Tel: +49-.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

330	oldest parts of the cellar.
7th century	Merovingian cross vault, the first cloister of St. Irminien ad Oeren Abbey.
2021	New modern tasting room.

Description

The Weinkeller Vereinigte Hospitien (Vereinigte Hospitien wine cellar) is located in the city of Trier, beneath the Römersaal in St. Irminen Abbey. Although the purpose of the Vereinigte Hospitien foundation is to care for and support elderly, sick, disabled and care-dependent people, it also grows wine under its own name on some of the best Moselle vineyards and markets it itself. The winery is a member of the Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates). The income from the wine business contributes to the maintenance of the social institutions.

The wine cellar is advertised as the oldest wine cellar in Germany. The reason is simple: Trier was founded by the Romans, who also brought viticulture with them. It is also often said that Trier is the oldest city in Germany for the same reason. However, Trier’s heyday was not 2,000 years ago, but about 300 years later, when the Roman Empire had four capitals for a time and Trier was one of them. And so the oldest parts of the wine cellar are a wall and the remains of a granary dating from 330. At that time, the cellar served as a magazine and storage house. It was not until the 7th century that the site became a monastery. The cellar was extended by a Merovingian cross vault, the first cloister of St. Irminien ad Oeren Abbey. Two hall-like horrea (warehouses) are each 70 metres long, 20 metres wide and 8 metres high. These buildings were converted into cellars in a somewhat artificial way, as they were completely built over. This is quite understandable, as the location on the Moselle meant that the groundwater level was very high and there was also a risk of flooding. So everything was moved upstairs.

The cellar tour lasts about an hour and takes in both the historic and modern cellars. The development of viticulture to the present day is explained, for example the transition from wooden barrels to stainless steel. In addition, the tasting room was modernised just a few years ago and is praised for its successful architecture. The cellar tour, called the Entdeckerführung (Discovery Tour), naturally includes the tasting of two wines, as is customary. There are also wine tastings without a cellar tour and various similar events. The wine is generally praised, but you can expect to pay between £10 and £15 for normal wines. Special wines can sometimes cost as much as £200. The wines are sold in the wine shop, which is also the starting point for the tours.