Winemaker

From the Dr. Heidemanns-Bergweiler family. The wines are from 20 hectares of estate vineyards, plus contract vineyards, which give the estate potential of almost 60 hectares. With vineyard parcels in many of the most important crus of the mosel, the family is truly fortunate. The smart, forward-thinking heir to this good fortune is the affable Stefan Pauly (12th generation). Hard-working and smart, Stefan is a fantastic partner with vision and drive.

Walking up and down the incredibly steep vineyards of the Mittel Mosel is a mind-blowing experience. The great growths are incredibly cut-up, steep, vertical. Ürziger Würzgarten, for just one example…the family owns about 2 hectares (5 acres) included among 20 separate rows and parcels! The vineyard measures around 30 hectares, with possibly 600 owners – many with only a row or two. One looks straight down to the river Mosel.

Planting is dense – 10 or 11 thousand plants per hectare, and that’s German counting. Lots of ungrafted, old vines as the area hasn’t been hit by phylloxera. Farming is organic. The history is deep. The vines grow in pure slate. The hillsides are almost vertical. And the wines, they are stunning.