Anniversary · Vinsmoselle
60 Years of Wine, Unity and Friendship
In 2026, Domaines Vinsmoselle celebrates its 60th anniversary. What began as a response to times of crisis has repeatedly proven its worth over the years, as the winegrowers’ cooperative has always known how to reinvent itself.
A look back at its history suggests that the story is far from over.
“The strength of a cooperative lies in its unity. We have always been there for one another, and we always will be. That is something that must remain unchanged.”
The story, however, begins long before 1966. On 4 September 1921, 25 winegrowers decided to join forces and establish Luxembourg’s first winegrowers’ cooperative. “With the end of the German Customs Union, demand for Luxembourg wine abroad had fallen sharply and much less wine was being sold, which led to the emergence of the cooperative idea,” explains Josy Gloden.During the 20th century, most businesses were mixed farms, active both in agriculture and viticulture. As families faced increasingly difficult times during the crisis, they grew closer together, says Gloden: “Many left all their possessions as collateral with the bank, including my grandfather, who was one of the co-founders of the cooperative winery.”
On 16 April 1966, another merger took place, this time between five of the six wineries that had been established in the meantime. “Everyone took part except Wormeldange, which remained independent until 1989 before also joining,” says Gloden.This marked the birth of Domaines Vinsmoselle, at the time one of the country’s most important wine producers and by far the largest. The advantage was that each winery had its own individual specialities when it came to grape varieties, while the merger made it possible to pool expertise and redefine their presence on the market. “The aim was to once again promote the export of Luxembourg wine, while also strengthening its local presence, according to the motto: Together we are stronger,” says the President of Vinsmoselle. Until the 2010s, each winery retained its own committee and supervisory board. Through the cooperative, however, work became easier and members were able to concentrate on the production of high-quality products.
With the land consolidation programme introduced from the 1970s onwards, which reorganised and redistributed the vineyard plots along the Moselle, cultivation also became easier and the estates gradually changed. “There was less and less land available for agriculture in the Moselle Valley, so families gradually switched entirely to winegrowing,” explains Gloden.
New grape varieties were also planted, with a particular focus on Pinot varieties, which were in high demand at the time. Then, on 13 November 1991, another major milestone in the history of Vinsmoselle was reached: the production of the very first Luxembourg Crémant under the name Poll-Fabaire, named after Paul Faber, the first president of the cooperative founded in 1921.
Although Vinsmoselle had already produced its first sparkling wines (“Mousseux”) before then, the first Crémant – which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year – became a true success story, as Gloden recalls: “At the beginning, our major customers required us to take back any bottles that remained unsold. However, everything was sold out after just three weeks, and the Crémant was so well received that today it accounts for a significant share of our production volume.” According to Gloden, Vinsmoselle has always been open to new ideas: “Whenever someone had an innovative idea, we were always willing to embrace it.” Whether it was seasonal products such as the “Primeurs” autumn wines, which the winery sold for 15 years until demand for Beaujolais declined, or the “Event Cuvées” released in collaboration with Luxembourg artists as part of the “Art & Vin” series since 1987, innovations have always existed alongside the core range produced along the Moselle – and they will continue to do so. It therefore comes as little surprise that two new cuvées were also introduced for Vinsmoselle’s 60th anniversary: the Pinot Gris Grand Premier Cru and the Crémant Brut Rosé, both limited editions created especially for the anniversary. “In June, we launched our Spritzi, and towards the end of the year there will be another surprise when it comes to Crémant,” reveals the President.
For this special occasion, a collaboration was also launched with artist Jacques Schneider, who not only designed the labels for the two anniversary products, but also created a range of merchandising items, including T-shirts, hoodies and caps, as well as an art book entitled Eng grouss Famill (“One Big Family”), in which he presents the history of Luxembourg Moselle wines through visual storytelling.The President of the winegrowers’ cooperative says that they are proud of the journey Domaines Vinsmoselle has made so far. Today, the Vinsmoselle vineyard area no longer comprises the 900 hectares cultivated by more than 800 members in 1991. Yet, even with “only” 450 hectares and 150 members remaining, the cooperative continues to maintain its position on both the Luxembourg and international markets. Although the sector has once again been facing new challenges in recent years, whether due to climate change or declining alcohol consumption, Gloden says that the cooperative remains faithful to the founding principles of the families who established it.“We must never forget our roots, because our ancestors built Vinsmoselle with heart and soul, and we must honour that legacy.” According to Gloden, Vinsmoselle is like one big family whose core principles remain unchanged, no matter how much the products evolve: “The strength of a cooperative lies in its unity. We have always been there for one another, and we always will be. That is something that must remain unchanged.”
With that, Happy Birthday, Vinsmoselle – here's to many more years of sharing the same spirit!
