Legend · Zell (Mosel)
The Black Cat of Zell
A hissing cat on a wine barrel gave one of the best-known Moselle wines its name.
In Zell on the Moselle, people tell how the "Zeller Schwarze Katz" (Black Cat) wine got its name. Three wine merchants came to a cellar to buy wine and tasted from three barrels. They couldn't decide.
Suddenly the winemaker's black cat leapt onto one of the barrels, arched its back and hissed at anyone who came near. The merchants took it as a sign: this barrel had to hold the best wine – and it did.
Ever since, the wine has borne the cat's name, and the black cat is still the emblem of Zell.
Legends are traditions, not historical facts.
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