The winery
Willi Schaefer
Small family-run estate in the Mosel (Graach) specialising exclusively in Riesling, with vineyards in the Graacher Domprobst, Graacher Himmelreich and Wehlener Sonnenuhr cru sites.
- Mosel (Mittelmosel) · Germania
- 5 products
The story
The Schaefer family has been recorded as winegrowers for centuries. In recent years Christoph and Andrea Schaefer have taken over management; Christoph joined the estate in 2002 and Willi handed over management to his son in 2015. The estate has developed as a small family project focused on the great sites of the Moselle.
Production philosophy
Strong focus on terroir-driven Riesling: all grapes vinified come from the estate's own vineyards. The approach favors selective hand harvesting on steep Devonian slate exposures, low yields and careful cellar work, with aging in traditional barrels to preserve the fruit's finesse and clarity.
Terroir and vineyards
Located in Graach, the estate manages steep, south-southwest-facing vineyards on slate and clay soils. The parcels are divided into numerous plots within the historic crus of Graacher Domprobst, Graacher Himmelreich and the nearby Wehlener Sonnenuhr.
Awards and recognition
Member of the VDP; mentions and recognitions from wine guides and the specialist press.
Characteristics
- Grape varieties
- Riesling
- Hectares
- 4.7
What makes it distinctive
- Exclusive production of Riesling from estate-owned vineyards.
- Vineyards from the Graacher Domprobst, Graacher Himmelreich and Wehlener Sonnenuhr crus.
- Family-run estate currently managed by Christoph and Andrea Schaefer.
- Steep vineyards on slate soil with many fragmented parcels.
- Traditional aging in large foudres and selective hand-harvesting.
