Willi Schaefer
Summary
Willi Schaefer is a small family estate in Graach on the Mosel, farming just 4.2 hectares of steep, slate-rich vineyards in the Domprobst and Himmelreich sites to produce exclusively Riesling across the traditional Prädikat spectrum. The Schaefer family maintains complete hands-on control of their production, employing spontaneous fermentation in traditional fuders, minimal intervention techniques, and sustainable vineyard practices that preserve the authentic character of historic Mosel winemaking.
Heritage & Leadership
The Willi Schaefer winery, located in the village of Graach in Germany's Mosel region, traces its winemaking roots back to medieval times when the Graach vineyards were first documented. The Schaefer family's direct involvement began in the early 20th century, with Willi Schaefer formally establishing the estate under his name in the 1950s after taking over the family's vineyard holdings. The winery remains a quintessential family operation, with ownership passing from Willi to his son Christoph Schaefer and daughter-in-law Andrea, who assumed full management responsibilities in 2015.
The transition of leadership has maintained remarkable continuity in the winery's approach. Christoph joined his father in the cellar in 1999 after completing his viticultural studies, working alongside Willi for over a decade before taking the helm. This generational handover exemplifies the meticulous knowledge transfer that characterizes the finest Mosel estates. The Schaefer family maintains a deliberately small production scale, focusing on quality over expansion, with Christoph and Andrea personally overseeing every aspect of production from vineyard work to bottling.
Vineyards & Wines
Willi Schaefer's vineyards encompass 4.2 hectares exclusively planted to Riesling, concentrated in two of the Mosel's most distinguished sites: Graacher Domprobst and Graacher Himmelreich. These steep, south-facing slopes rise dramatically from the Mosel River, with elevations ranging from 130 to 250 meters above sea level. The Domprobst vineyard, comprising approximately 2.5 hectares of their holdings, features predominantly blue Devonian slate soils with high mineral content, while their 1.7 hectares in Himmelreich contain more weathered slate with loam components.
The estate's vine age contributes significantly to wine quality, with many parcels exceeding 50 years and some reaching 80 years. These old vines, primarily ungrafted and on original rootstock, produce naturally low yields averaging 45 hectoliters per hectare. The Schaefers craft wines across the traditional Prädikat spectrum, from delicate Kabinett to concentrated Trockenbeerenauslese, with particular recognition for their precisely balanced Kabinett and Spätlese bottlings. Each wine is vinified separately by parcel, resulting in distinct bottlings that reflect specific vineyard sections, creating a portfolio of approximately 15 different wines annually, with total production limited to around 2,500 cases.
Philosophy & Practice
The Schaefer winemaking philosophy centers on minimal intervention to preserve the transparent expression of their vineyard sites. All grapes are harvested by hand through multiple selective passes through the vineyards, allowing for precise selection of fruit at optimal ripeness levels for each Prädikat category. In the cellar, fermentation occurs spontaneously with native yeasts in a combination of traditional 1,000-liter oak fuders and stainless steel tanks, with fermentations typically lasting between 2 and 6 months.
Temperature control remains deliberately traditional, utilizing the natural cooling effect of their deep cellar rather than technical refrigeration. The Schaefers avoid fining agents and employ only light filtration before bottling. Sulfur additions are minimal and carefully timed. This approach extends to vineyard management, where sustainable practices include cover crops, organic fertilizers, and the avoidance of herbicides. The family's hands-on approach extends to all aspects of production—Christoph and Andrea personally conduct all vineyard work, cellar operations, and even handle administrative tasks, maintaining complete control over quality at every stage. This comprehensive involvement, combined with their steadfast commitment to traditional methods, results in wines that faithfully communicate the distinctive character of their historic Graach vineyards.