The metropolis of the red Moselle vineyard peach
Cochem is considered the metropolis of the red Moselle vineyard peach. Perhaps you are now wondering, “Peaches by the Moselle? Aren’t these fruits more typically to be found in southern climes? And what does a peach have to do with vineyards?”
Here’s a piece of cultural history
It was the ancient Romans who brought the "Persian apple" to the Moselle. Since then, it has been a close friend of the grapevines: providing an enrichment to the vintner’s cuisine, while its delicate little trees barely take up any space in the vineyards. In April it reveals its talent as a herald of spring when its branches burst into pink buds, long before the first signs of green began to sprout on the vines. In autumn its deep red leaves create fiery highlights in the yellow Riesling landscape.
Nowhere else can you experience this firework of colours more intensely than around Cochem. Four-fifths of the peach trees in the Moselle decorate the slops of our region – which is why it is referred to as "Cochem – Metropolis of the red Moselle vineyard peach"!
With the recent return to traditional culinary secrets and increasing interest in natural, healthy products, the red Moselle vineyard peach is currently experiencing a Renaissance.
It also has another string to its bow: it is also a protector of the environment. The peach provides an additional source of income for the winegrowers who cultivate it on the steep slopes of the area under the most difficult of conditions. It therefore helps them to secure the survival of their businesses.
What does that have to do with protecting nature? A lot! In the warm dry walls of the Moselle hills lives a small but previous society of extremely rare animal species, such as the Mountain Apollo butterfly and the Green Lizard, as well as unusual varieties of plants. If their habitat were to be taken over by woodland again, this would almost certainly mean their death. But who thinks about such matters when they are sitting in a lush green setting or a cosy wine bar and enjoying the sensation of a vintner’s crisp sparkling wine on their tongue, refined with a dash of vineyard peach liqueur?
A little thing of wonders
To celebrate the importance of this special fruit in a fitting manner, there are regular festivals are held in its honour in Cochem:
- The blossom festival of the red Moselle vineyard peach is held in the square “Endertplatz” in Cochem every second Sunday in April (if Easter Sunday falls on this date, the festival is postponed for a week).
- Every second Saturday in September the Red Moselle Vineyard Peach Day is held in the form of a market.