Osterlaemmchen

The Paschal Lamb – from Pasch, meaning Passover or Easter – is deeply rooted in tradition, as is wine culture. How, then, did a Mosel vineyard site, located midway between Cochem and Zell in the village of Ediger, acquire the name Osterlämmchen...literally, Easter lamb?

The precise origins are not really known, but it was first mentioned as “der Weingarten des Lämbgen” in 1736 then as the “Weingarten am Osterlämbgen” in the Bishop of Trier's Registry in 1761. Perhaps the St. Martin Church nearby lends a clue, as there is a depiction there of Christ, the ‘lamb of God’ in the vaulted ceiling.

Osterlämmchen was highly rated as a vineyard site both then and later when, in the early 19th century, Napoleon had properties appraised for tax purposes. It's qualities were again recognised in the famous vineyard classification maps that the then-ruling Prussians published in 1897, based on the assessments of the French nearly a century earlier.

Osterlämmchen is a sloping to very steep site that consists of stony slate and weathered graywacke soils. It has a southeast to southwest exposure and was originally around 35 hectares. In the 1990s during the national program of vineyard consolidation, the Hasensprung site, a prime parcel located within the heart of Osterlämmchen, was incorporated into Osterlämmchen. Hasensprung (hare’s leap) probably takes its names from the huge amount of rabbits in the area who have always enjoyed munching on the grapevines’ tender shoots. 

Today the vineyard of 20ha is mostly planted with Riesling, with approximately a quarter planted with Spätburgunder and Dornfelder.

Unfortunately, you are not likely to find Osterlämmchen wines in export markets... all the more reason to visit this region in person. A mature (3-5 years old) Riesling of Spätlese ripeness would be a great accompaniment to a holiday meal featuring Easter lamb.