For 125 years, DER RING has united a wide variety of wineries along the Moselle, Saar and Ruwer river, producing wines of the highest quality and thus earning the wine-growing region a high reputation both in Germany and on international markets.
History
1899 | The birth
On April 29, 1899, Dr. A. Schmitz, Anton Thanisch, Jac. Thanisch, Nic. Geller, Peter Tapprich, Peter Schmitgen and E. Leutzgen founded the "Association of Vineyard Owners of the Middle Moselle".
The seven founding wine estates want to set themselves high quality standards with pure, natural wines and "bring their home-grown and home-pressed wines to auction in Berncastel". They adopt a set of statutes, the principles of which are still valid today: It is not the size of the estate that is decisive for admission, but "the type of grape variety (Riesling), the quality of the site and the care taken in cultivation and winemaking". The wineries are subject to strict self-regulation with regard to quality and correct market conduct.
1901 | The first auction
On April 23, 1901, the first auction of naturally pure wines takes place in Bernkastel. As self-marketing in today's sense was still largely unknown, the wine auctions, some of which took place up to twice a year, played an important role. Further auctions followed almost every year - even during the First World War.
1923 | Quality is the top priority
A new resolution stipulates "that the wine barrels to be auctioned are to be examined by a commission with the assistance of wine experts by means of hidden samples, without stating the name, location and municipality".
1924 | Bottle instead of Fuder
According to tradition, wines were auctioned by the barrel at the beginning of the 20th century. Only after an auction did the winegrowers bottle the wine according to the wishes of the buyers, who provided bottles and corks. On February 2 1924, however, the general meeting decided that the 1921 wines should definitely be bottled and later also auctioned as bottled wines. For the first time, the Bernkasteler auction wines are characterized by a uniform neck ribbon.
1930 - 1945 | Threatening times
Despite the threat of a ban by the "Reichskommissar für Preisbildung" (Reich Commissioner for Pricing) from 1937, a few auctions could be held until the spring of 1942. Time and again, winegrowers had to fear that their wines would be confiscated by the Nazi government. The minutes from October 1941 report that 70 percent of all wines in the wine trade were confiscated for the German army.
1948 - 1949 | New beginning
After the Second World War and the Nazi era, the first general meeting of the Bernkasteler Verein takes place in Trier on July 24, 1948. The first auction follows on April 28, 1949, also in Trier. It is suggested that new members be recruited and that "more advertising" be done for the auction and the Mosel Riesling.
1950/60s | "Fleet bids" lead to record prices
- 7,970 DM for a Fuder of 1953 Wehlener Sonnenuhr (Winery Kerpen),
- 11,100 DM per barrel of Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Auslese (Winery Peter Weller-Lehnert),
- 12,310 DM per barrel 1959 Erdener Treppchen ff. Auslese (Winery Erben Stephan Ehlen) and
- 15,900 DM for a Fuder 1964 Brauneberger Juffer hochfeine Auslese (Winery Friedrich Kirch Erben) - record prices characterize these years.
1970s | Upheavals after the 1971 wine law.
The Wine Act of 1971 also brings decisive upheavals to the Moselle: With the emergence of large wineries and trading giants, many small and medium-sized wine merchants gave up. Winegrowers who wanted to assert themselves with their top wines had to become self-marketers. Bottled wines are increasingly being offered instead of bulk wines as well as dry and off-dry Rieslings from Kabinett to Auslese. These often make up 30% of the total range.
1978 | The big merger
The "Association of Vineyard Owners of the Middle Moselle" and the "Trier Ring", founded in 1911, merge to form the "Bernkasteler Ring".
1990s | Events and prizes
The Bernkasteler Ring awards the "Nikolaus Cusanus-Weinkultur-Förderpreis" and organizes numerous wine culture and wine experience events.
1997 | And again record prices
Two Trockenbeerenauslese wines achieve the record price of all auctions to date at almost 1,400 marks per bottle (Weingüter Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler and Markus Molitor).
1998 | Landscape conservation
With the "Red Vineyard Peach" campaign, the Bernkasteler Ring wineries want to reintroduce this typical vineyard tree after it had fallen victim to land consolidation.
2003 | Rekordmostgewicht
331° Oechsle - after a record summer, the Bernkasteler Ring winery Markus Molitor achieves this fabulous record must weight.
2005 | GG
For the first time, wineries in the Bernkasteler Ring are bringing Rieslings onto the market as Grosse Gewächse.
The focus is on the special characteristics of the classified site and the expression of the terroir, and the wines are distinguished by criteria that bring this unmistakably to the glass.
2012 | No limits
A Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese by Markus Molitor from 2006 achieves another record value at the auction with 2750 euros.
2021 | Pinot Noir GG
Starting with the 2021 vintage, which was launched in 2023, the Bernkasteler Ring is opening up to new developments. For the first time, Pinot Noirs are also marketed as Grosse Gewächse.
2023 | Three innovations for the auction
Dr. Sonja Christ-Brendemühl takes over as auctioneer of the auction. Pinot Noir can also be auctioned for the first time. Under the motto "Bernkasteler Ring and Friends", four friendly wineries from other regions are also taking part: Winery Bertram-Baltes (Ahr), AdamsWein (Rheinhessen), Winery Chat Sauvage (Rheingau), Winery Jakob Schneider (Nahe).
2023 | Bernkasteler Ring becomes THE RING
The Bernkasteler Ring decides to break new ground. The members of Germany's oldest wine auction society decide to rename themselves DER RING Mosel 1899 e.V.
2024 | 125 years
The oldest wine auction society DER RING Mosel 1899 e.V. celebrates its 125th anniversary and presents itself with a new logo and a new image following the renaming.