The history of the oldest church in Germany, the High Cathedral Trier ‘Trierer Dom’ dates back to the earliest days of Christianity. An Episcopal church was already in existence around the year 180, a historic succession of bishops however can only be verified from the middle of the 3rd century.

The high status of the Church of Trier and its bishops is witnessed by the double church that was constructed by the Roman Emperor Constantine in the 4th century. At that time it was the largest double church in the whole of the Great Roman Empire. The still intact 30 metres high antique centre of the Trier Cathedral dates from the end of the same century, the period of Emperor Gratian.

The connection between the Cathedral and viticulture dates back many centuries. A bylaw from 1249 freed the members of the Trier Cathedral Chapter from their Episcopal duties during the wine harvest.

The High Cathedral today possesses 22 hectares of vineyards in two prestigious sites: ‘Scharzhofberg’ near Wiltingen on the river Saar and the ‘Gut Avelsbach’ estate close to Trier. The ‘Scharzhofberg’ estate had been a monastery until the French Revolution. During the process of secularization it was taken into private ownership. In 1851/52 the Cathedral was able to buy back parts of the ‘Scharzhofberg’ estate and manages around ten hectares in this significant site today.