Weingut Willi Schaefer | Mosel

Weingut Willi Schaefer is to be found In the village of Graach, close to the municipality of Bernkastel-Kues in the Germany's Mosel Valley. Since 2015, Christoph Schaefer and his wife Andrea have run this storied family winery, having first met while studying enology at Geisenheim. Their winemaking philosophy is not much different than that of Christoph’s father or grandfather. The focus is not on numbers or analytics, but on how the grapes taste. From harvesting each plot to the fermentations with natural yeast, all the way through bottling, everything is done by taste and feel.

With south-to-southwest exposition, the vines have great sun exposure all day as well as a natural spring that runs through the hillside, guaranteeing good water supply even in warm vintages. The Romans already knew the benefits of Graach’s sites and cultivated vines here. In the Prussian classification of the Mosel vineyards from 1816 to 1832, Graach’s vineyards had the highest ratings. Compared to the wines just slightly northwest in Zeltingen, the wines from Graach show cooler green and white tones rather Wehlen and Zeltingen’s more orange and red flavours. These wines perfectly reflect this unique terroir and show the distinct differences between these two sites right next to each other.

Schaefer is absolutely, without question, one of the greatest producers in Germany. This is a benchmark for the Mosel and the wines are coveted not just by collectors, but by other growers.