Caves St. Martin

Useful Information

Location:	North of Remich. At the road along the Moselle river, between Remich and Grevenmacher, just north of Remich.
Open:	JAN closed. FEB to MAR by reservation for groups only. APR to OCT daily 10-12, 13:30-18. NOV to 15-DEC by reservation for groups only. [2004]
Fee:	Adults EUR 2.55, Children (6-18) EUR 2, LuxembourgCard free. Groups (10+): Adults EUR 2.25, Children EUR 1.80. [2004]
Classification:	Cellar
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	T=13 °C.
Guided tours:	D=45 min.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Caves St. Martin, 53 Route de Stadtbredimus, L-5570 Remich, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Tel: +352-2369-9774, Fax: +352-2369-9434. E-mail:
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

Description

Caves St. Martin is the only winery in Luxembourg which produces sparkling wines. They use the same method, which is used in the Champagne to produce Champagne. Once this method was called Méthode Champagnoise, but because of copyright quarrels they now call it Méthode Traditionelle. On a visit to this wine cellers, the guide explains this method detailed, with some displays for the different steps. Depending on the time of year you will see different things, as this is a working winery, and you are guided through a cellar which is still in use. The tour is completed by several historic machines, for example for the removing of the yeast. And at the end of the tour, there is of course the possibility to buy some bottle of wine or sparkling wine.

The Moselle is near Remich already a broad river, flowing in wide meanders through a hilly landscape of sandstones and schist. The slopes of the valley, a little lower than the hills around and rather sunny, are a good location to grow grapes. The steep slope is essential, also the rocks. The sun is shining on the rock by day, which become warm and store this energy, to emit it again in the evening. So the evening is warmer in rocky wineyards than in normal fields. The rock also prevent the evaporation of the water from the earth. And at last the steep slope means that each grapevine is higher than the one before, and so they get more sun than they would in a horizontal vineyard. This explains why it is possible to grow wine in an area which is generally too far north and to cool for this.

An important reason, why this huge winery is located right here is the geology. Steep cliffs, probably 15 m high, were carved by the moselle into the rather soft sandstone. The existance of this rock is important, it was rather easy to build cellars into this rock, and the sandstone provides an ideal temperature and humidity for wine.