Wine Lovers....

[Jim727]

Unfortunately, I have been much too busy over the last couple of months and have been unable to spend time on the boards. However, I received an email today that should be of interest to any wine lover and thought those in this community who appreciate fine wine should get the news.

It appears that the finest vineyards of the Mosel are in extreme danger and need help if they are to survive.

I have pasted the content of the email below. The bottom line is that there is a petition at Mosel protest if you would like to lend support. The beginning of the web page is in German, but there is an English translation. I would have posted this earlier, but I only received it today and Dec. 1 is the last day the petition is accepting signatures.

Many thanks for your help.
Jim

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Subject: Mosel estates ask for your help

*

Dear fellow German wine lovers -

The top Mosel estates, including Joh. Jos. Prum, are spearheading an international campaign to stop the building of a huge highway overpass bridge that will go straight through the Mosel valley. *They have asked for help from the American wine community. *Construction on the bridge is about to start, so the Mosel estates who have vineyard parcels in the area are pulling out all the stops right now to get it halted. *There have been a couple articles/blogs already written about this earlier this year, but it is now ‘do or die’ time in the effort.

This is not a scenic little bridge crossing the Mosel we’re talking about – those already exist. *This is a huge concrete overpass that will span between the hilltops and directly impact the vineyards around it. *It jeopardizes the water balance and puts at risk the stability of the steep slate slopes which are very sensitive geologically. *We’re also not talking about the bridge affecting lesser vineyard sites – these just happen to be major, famous sites, including Urziger Wurzgarten, Erdener Pralat, Zeltinger Sonnenuhr, Graacher Himmelreich, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, and Bernkasteler Doctor.

The bridge was initially proposed many decades ago, but the project was abandoned until recently. *It has resurfaced not really because of need - it’s a lot like a pork-barrel project in the U.S. *The state government would like the funds and says the bridge would bring jobs to the area and help tourism. *In truth, any job impact would likely only be short-term during the construction. Wine and tourism are the two main sources of income in this region, and rather than supporting the Mosel valley in this respect by applying for a listing as a UNESCO world cultural heritage site, they are planning to deface the valley by building the bridge right over the best vineyards in the area with some of the most picturesque views. *

HELPING OUT IS EASY!

The German magazine Feinschmecker (a highly regarded wine and food publication) has already started a project to collect as many signatures from around the world as possible by December 1st. *They will deliver them to the state government in an effort to put pressure on them to stop the Mosel bridge project. *To sign the petition just go to this link: Mosel protest . *Instructions are provided in English, it is very quick and easy to complete, and pictures are shown of the proposed bridge and where it will go. *It isn’t pretty.

Wine lovers from the U.K. have already participated in a large way in the effort to stop the bridge from being built. *Hugh Johnson gave a great speech on a German national television news program saying that this is just like putting an ugly bridge straight through first growth Bordeaux vineyards, and France would never allow that. *

Here is a personal message from Katharina Prum from Joh. Jos. Prum, who would truly appreciate your help:

“We cannot just accept German politicians not only wasting money (which is less important for you in the US) but defacing a beautiful, 2,000 year-old cultural heritage that should be listed by the UNESCO, and jeopardizing world-famous vineyards in the Mosel valley. You Americans understand - since many decades - the beauty and value of what our ignorant politicians are jeopardizing here. We would appreciate your support in fighting against this “crime”, as Hugh Johnson qualified it.”
*
The estates thank you for listening!