Lieser
Summary
Weingut Schloss Lieser is a family-owned Mosel estate operating from a neo-Gothic castle with 25 hectares of steep, slate-rich vineyards across premier Middle Mosel villages, focusing exclusively on Riesling production from ungrafted vines aged 25-100 years. Under Thomas Haag's leadership since 1997, the winery employs traditional methods including hand harvesting, spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts, and aging in both stainless steel and oak fuders to create site-specific wines that express the distinctive mineral character of each vineyard.
Heritage & Leadership
Weingut Schloss Lieser traces its origins to 1904 when the impressive neo-Gothic castle and surrounding vineyards were established by Baron von Schorlemer. The estate changed hands several times throughout the 20th century before Thomas Haag acquired it in 1997. Haag, the son of Wilhelm Haag of the renowned Fritz Haag estate in Brauneberg, brought with him considerable winemaking expertise developed under his father's guidance. After purchasing the property, Thomas and his wife Ute undertook extensive renovations of both the castle and the vineyards, gradually expanding their holdings from the initial 6.5 hectares. The estate joined the VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter) in 2014, marking an important milestone in its modern history. Today, Thomas Haag continues to lead all aspects of vineyard management and winemaking, while the next generation has begun to integrate into the family business.
Vineyards & Wines
Weingut Schloss Lieser now manages approximately 25 hectares of vineyards spread across several prime locations in the Middle Mosel. The estate's holdings include parcels in Lieser (Niederberg Helden), Brauneberg (Juffer and Juffer Sonnenuhr), Wehlen (Sonnenuhr), Graach (Himmelreich and Domprobst), and Piesport (Goldtröpfchen). These steep-sloped vineyards, with gradients often exceeding 60%, feature predominantly blue and gray Devonian slate soils that provide excellent drainage and heat retention. The vineyards are planted almost exclusively with Riesling vines, many of which are ungrafted and range from 25 to 100 years in age. Elevation ranges from 110 to 190 meters above sea level, with primarily south and southwest exposures that maximize sun exposure in this cool climate region. The estate produces a full spectrum of Riesling styles, from dry Grosses Gewächs to noble sweet Trockenbeerenauslese, with particular emphasis on their single-vineyard bottlings from VDP.GROSSE LAGE sites.
Philosophy & Practice
Thomas Haag employs a minimalist approach in both the vineyard and cellar, focusing on expressing the distinctive character of each vineyard site. Vineyard work is labor-intensive and meticulous, with all grapes harvested by hand through multiple selective passes to ensure optimal ripeness. In the cellar, Haag favors spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts in a combination of stainless steel tanks and traditional large oak fuders. Fermentation temperatures are kept cool to preserve aromatic complexity, and the wines typically undergo extended lees contact to build texture and complexity. For the estate's dry wines, fermentation continues until natural completion, while the sweeter styles are arrested through temperature control and filtration to preserve residual sugar. Aging periods vary by wine style, with the top cuvées spending 6-8 months in oak before bottling. The estate's production methods emphasize purity and precision, allowing the distinctive mineral character of each vineyard site to shine through in the finished wines.