People & History

Roman Emperor Joseph I of Hungary and Bohemia ennobled Peter Christian Nell in recognition of his achievements.

In addition to viticulture, the family successfully pursued rafting and timber trading along the Rhine. Their cross-border trade brought them prosperity, which they invested in land and vineyards.

As a young piano teacher and close friend of the von Breuning family, Ludwig van Beethoven taught the children of the household, who were about his age.

Eleonore von Breuning became Beethoven’s first love, and he dedicated several of his compositions to her. Her brother, Stephan von Breuning, remained a lifelong companion and confidant of Beethoven.

Under Napoleon Bonaparte, Christoph Philipp von Nell served as a member of the French National Assembly and acquired extensive estates and vineyards in and around Trier.

The wines of the von Nell family soon became renowned beyond the borders of Trier.

When Napoleon visited Trier, he stayed as a guest of the von Nell family at their newly built estate, “Nells Ländchen.” Impressed by the beauty of the expansive park grounds, Napoleon expressed his appreciation by presenting them with a gift of a fine table service.

Oskar von Nell built the winery in nearby Kasel and quickly developed it into an exemplary wine-growing estate.

Dr. jur. Arthur von Nell – brother of Oskar – was a co-founder of the renowned Trier Wine Auction Association “Der Große Ring”, the precursor of today’s VDP (Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates).

The Russian Imperial Court ordered 1,100 bottles of “Dominikanerberg” from the 1911 vintage.

Christoph and Ingeborg von Nell took over the winery in Kasel, managing it according to modern viticultural principles. With their wines and sparkling wines from the Dominikanerberg and Paulinsberg vineyards, they gained international recognition.

They also founded the first sparkling wine house in the Ruwer Valley.

German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt served Queen Margrethe of Denmark a Riesling “Dominikanerberg” during a state visit at the Petersberg in Bonn.

The theologian Oswald von Nell-Breuning, Jesuit and founder of Catholic Social Teaching, was made an honorary citizen of his hometown Trier at the age of ninety.

A few years later, he passed his name “Breuning” on to his nephew and only godchild, Christoph, after which the estate became known as the “Weingut von Nell-Breuning.”

At the International Wine Competition in Bordeaux, the Dominikaner Estate C. von Nell-Breuning won the only gold medal awarded to Germany.

Ingeborg and Christoph von Nell-Breuning passed the estate on to their youngest daughter, Dr. Carmen von Nell-Breuning, who now continues the family’s winemaking tradition in the 11th generation.

Carmen converted the winery to biodynamic principles, making her a pioneer in the Ruwer Valley.