Elbling is an ancient, and some would say outdated, vine variety that has been cultivated in the Mosel Valley since Roman times. At one time it was effectively the only variety planted in luxembourg and dominated the extensive vineyards of medieval Germany (see german history). Today it is increasingly unpopular in Luxembourg and in Germany, where only 538 ha/1,329 acres remained in 2012, most of it in the upper reaches of the mosel above Trier where chalk dominates slate and Riesling has difficulty ripening. Much of the Elbling grown here is used for sekt. While the vine is distinguished for its antiquity and productivity, its wines are distinguished by their often searing acidity and their relatively low alcohol. dna profiling in Austria suggested a parent–offspring relationship with gouais blanc.
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