Luxembourg is one of Europe’s tiniest countries, tucked away between Belgium, France and Germany. You might associate Luxembourg with being a wealthy nation, a hub for private banking and financial services. But there’s one reason you should put Luxembourg on your next Europe itinerary – wine.
The perfect day trip
Luxembourg’s rolling vineyards are one of the country’s best kept secrets. The Moselle region is the heart of Luxembourg’s wine industry and makes for the perfect day trip, even if you’re not a wine snob. It’s less than three hours away from key European travel hubs like Brussels, Cologne and Frankfurt and is an easy country to explore given it’s compact size. You might even be tempted to stay the night, like I did. Luxembourg became the first country to make all public transport free (even for tourists) in 2020.
A tradition for five generations
My first stop at Luxembourg was about 20 km from the city centre in the rolling hills of the Mossel region, at Caves Bernard-Massard. Luxembourg’s leading family producer of wines rolls out about 3.5 million bottles of wine each year and demonstrates that the European Union is More Than Food.
Crémant de Luxembourg
Mossel is just over 200 km from the Champagne region in France, over time Mossel’s sparkling wines have acquired a hallowed reputation. The pick of the wines I tried here was their Cuvée 1921. In 2021, Bernard-Massard celebrated its 100th anniversary and launched the– Crémant de Luxembourg for this occasion. The winery is now in the hands of the fifth generation and has become one of the flagbearers of the Crémant de Luxembourg that is made according to ‘méthode traditionnelle’ or the traditional method of sparkling wine production. This typically includes a second fermentation in the bottle followed by nine months of maturation. Luxembourg is the only country outside France to use the term ‘Crémant’.
A ’sparking’ success
Luxembourg’s demand for wine, far outstrips its production and yet it still exported over $23 million of wine in 2023. Bernard-Massard alone exports to over 20 countries and rides on Luxembourg’s reputation for producing high-quality, crisp white wines and sparkling wines. My visit began to Luxembourg began with a walk through Bernard-Massard’s vineyards before moving to their production area and wine cellars. The tour ended in their cosy wine library with a three-course tasting menu where local specialities were paired with their signature wines. One of the highlights of the menu was the Beurre Rose, a cultured milk butter produced in Luxembourg.
Local culinary delights
The country has a fine reputation for dairy products that benefit from European Union's More Than Food quality assurance stamps: PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication). I made a quick stop at Mokerie Thiry, a dairy farm in Luxembourg that exemplifies the country’s dairy traditions. I’d also recommend exploring Luxembourg culinary specialities like the potato pancakes (Gromperekichelcher) and cooked cheese (Kachkéis) at Place d’ Armes in the heart of Luxembourg City’s old town.
A detour from Europe’s busy tourist spots
The Moselle region is more than just a wine hub. With rolling vineyards and charming villages along the Moselle river, this is a welcome detour for panoramic views. Locals recommended a visit to the viewpoint overlooking the village of Machtum with the Moselle River looming large. I’d also suggest a leisurely walk through the village of Remich or a boat trip on the river near this village that locals call the pearl of the Moselle. A trip to Luxembourg city is great for its historic fortress and riverside district but it was the Moselle Region that was the highlight of my Luxembourg experience: fine wines, sweeping views and the perfect day trip; a complete contrast from some of Europe’s tourist traps.