Willi Schaefer

For the German bobsledder, see Willi Schäfer (bobsleigh).

Willi Schaefer is a German wine grower and producer based in Graach, in the wine-growing region of Mosel, Germany.

Willi Schaefer
Location	Graach, Germany
Appellation	Mosel (wine region)
Key people	Willi Schaefer, Christopher Schaefer
Cases/yr	2000-3000
Varietal	Riesling

Willi Schaefer

Willi Schaefer

History

The Schaefer family believe their viticulture roots in Graach extend back to 1121,^[1][2] with documentation from 1590.^[3]

The current winery came into the hands of the Schaefer family in 1950 and Willi Schaefer took over as the winemaker in 1971.^[1][4][5]

Willi Schaefer has been a member of the Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter since 1993.^[2][3] In 1997, Schaefer was awarded "Newcomer of the Year" by the Gault Millau wine guide.^[6]

Since 2001 Willi Schaefer's son Christoph, and Christoph's wife Andrea have been assisting with running the winery.^[2][4][5]

Vineyards and wine

Vineyards above the town of Graach.

Willi Schaefer works with 3 hectares of Riesling vineyards, including vines in Graacher Himmelreich, Graacher Domprobst and Wehlener Sonnenuhr.^[3] Wine writers Stephen Brook and Stephan Reinhardt are of the opinion that the best wines from this estate are usually produced from the Graacher Domprobst parcels.^[4][5][7] The oldest vines are around 60 years of age and 60-70% of the vines are ungrafted, resulting in low yields.^[5]

The wines ferment and are matured for around six months on lees in old 1000 litre foudres before bottling.^[4][8][7]

Around 2000 to 3000 cases of wine are produced each year. Only a very small number are made in a Trocken or off-dry style and Schaefer avoids the presence of too much botrytis influence in his sweet wines where permissible.^[4][7]