The Schäfer-Fröhlich winery is known for its philosophy focused on origin and terroir. Tim Fröhlich strives for wines that possess finesse, elegance, and a clear expression of their place of origin, and is convinced that Riesling is best able to reflect this.
The Riesling Kabinett Dorsheimer Pittermännchen 2021 from Schlossgut Diel, which we tasted three years ago, was excellent. This time, we tasted a Riesling Auslese 2023 from the winery’s Dorsheimer Goldloch vineyard. Although the two vineyards border each other, the grapes thrive on different soils. While slate is the dominant characteristic of the Pittermännchen vineyard, the spicy, often slightly smoky nose of the Goldloch vineyard is likely due to the bedrock beneath the heavily gravelly loam soils. With a slope of up to 55%, the vineyard demands a high level of work. On the other hand, this incline, combined with the south to southwest exposure of the vineyard, ensures excellent sun exposure, which promotes ripening.
With a slope of around 65 degrees, the Erdener Prälat is one of the steepest vineyards in Germany. The site also boasts an exceptionally high proportion of old, ungrafted Riesling vines. Thanks to its southern exposure in the Moselle loop and the heat-retaining rocks, the site enjoys a very warm microclimate, from which the vines benefit. The red slate soil also contributes to the complexity of these top-quality Rieslings. We tasted one of these examples, the 2022 Riesling Auslese Erdener Prälat Alte Reben from the Dr. Hermann winery.
Riesling plays a very important role in German sweet wine. For me, Riesling Auslese wines from the Mosel region are definitely among the best. This time, we tasted the Riesling Auslese Pündericher Marienburg Fahrlay 2017 from the Clemens Busch winery. The Busch winery in Pünderich on the Mosel, represented by Rita and Clemens Busch and their son Johannes, cultivates around 20 hectares of vineyards. Most of these belong to the Grand Cru Marienburg, with a smaller portion belonging to the neighbouring Premier Cru Nonnengarten. Riesling is the dominant variety, accounting for 99% of the vineyard.
The Schloss Lieser winery receives top marks from wine guides and wine critics. The wine guides Vinum, Eichelmann and Falstaff have given it 5 grapes and 5 stars respectively, making it one of the absolute top wine producers. The wines from the winery are also repeatedly awarded top marks – for example by Robert Parker, Jancis Robinson and ⁄.
The terroir of the Graacher Himmelreich can be described as excellent. Weathered, mineral-rich Devonian slate characterizes the vine sites around Graach. The heat-storing properties of the slate and the south to south-west orientation of the steep slopes enable a good ripening in late summer and into October.
The Romans had already planted grape vines in the Brauneberger Juffer location – and made wine from them, as the remains of the Roman wine press at the foot of the steep slope show. The 10.5 hectare Juffer Sonnenuhr vineyard, whose name refers to the sundial located in the vineyard, is considered the heart of Brauneberger Juffer.
Some of the most sought-after wines are those from Julian Haart. Growing up in an extremely traditional winemaking family, he has been running his own winery
There was mascarpone ice cream with oven-roasted strawberries for dessert, plus a Pius Auslese 2022 from the Klaus Peter Keller winery. A very well-known winery, above all for its elegant dry Riesling wines, but also for its sweet wines, which are among the best.
The vines for Saar wines thrive on or near the Saar between Serrig and Konz. 80% of the vineyards there are planted with Riesling. We tasted a Riesling Auslese Krettnacher Euchariusberg 2018 from the Willems-Willems winery. A selection of vines that are located a little higher in the side valley of Krettnach and Niedermennig and as a result thrive in cooler locations,