Mystery wine

[LucindaShorey]

A friend of mine has relatives in town from Germany and they mentioned a low-alcohol, apple cider-like wine that they want to try. They do not know the name of it either. All we can think of is maybe a Mosel/Mosul? Does anyone have any ideas of what this wine could be?

Thanks much
Lucinda

[wondersofwine]

Maybe a board member has a better answer. I recall that the Frankfurt/Sachsenhausen area was known for Apfelwein which was like an apple cider. At one party where it was being poured generously, I had to take over the driving home since my companion was in no condition to drive. First had to figure out how to work the headlights and take off the emergency brake on the Cadillac. The Apfelwein we had was made from apples grown by the party host. She sent them somewhere to be pressed and fermented.

[Thomas]

Cadillac! Is that gas-guzzler still in production?

Since you mention the Mosel, perhaps your German friend refers to Riesling produced in the Mosel that sometimes can have an apple-like quality to it. Although wondersofine likely has the correct answer--or as near as possible, and if so, you likely will have a terrible time finding it in the states.

[hotwine]

Hi, Lucinda, and welcome. Sounds like your visitors might be looking for apfelsaft, which is German cider. Suggest you check with your wine shops for hard cider, which is the term used to describe fermented apple cider. It's not Mosel wine, although some Rieslings from the Mosel region do exhibit slight nuances of green apples. Hard cider is available throughout the southeastern U.S., and probably elsewhere, and as I recall has an alcohol content of about 9%.

[hotwine]

Looks like we were kinda trippin' over each other.
Apfelsaft is really applejuice, and WOW is correct that fermented applejuice should be called apfelwein. But if you ask for apfelsaft in a German wineshop, you'll be handed cider (at least, where I was livin').

[This message has been edited by hotwine (edited 07-27-2001).]

[LucindaShorey]

Thanks to everyone for their help on this!

Lucinda