The Dr. Loosen winery has been linked to the Moselle terroir for over 200 years and is internationally known for its premium Rieslings . Passed down from father to son for generations, the estate was inherited in 1988 by Ernst Loosen, who took family production to the next level. In years of crisis for German wine, considered of low quality and therefore less in demand, Ernst Loosen has treasured the inheritance received, that is of some ancient vineyards located in the historic Grand Cru of Moselle, to produce new wines that best express the quality of the territory. The principle that has always inspired him is that great wines are the result of passion, dedication and a clear vision of what the finished product should be. “A great wine begins in your mind”, this is his philosophy and this is how the Grosses Gewächse, 9 varieties of Riesling Dry from the Moselle Grand Cru vineyards, or the GG Réserve, considered the quintessence of the terroir of origin, were born. Today the Dr. Loosen brand is synonymous with guarantee and quality, so much so that in 1993 the company became part of the VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikats und Qualitätsweinguter), an association that brings together the 200 best German wineries.

White wine Dr. Loosen

Dr. Loosen white wine was born on the slopes along the Moselle River in Germany, where the cool climate and perfect exposure create an ideal habitat for the production of Riesling. The sunlight, in fact, allows the grapes to ripen slowly, maintaining their freshness and acidity, while the soils of slate stones are a natural source of nutrients for plants, as they contain potassium and other minerals. Here, the Dr. Loosen winery has been growing its grapes for generations: the oldest vines are on average 70 years old and some reach 130 years. The secret of the success of Dr. Loosen wines lies not only in the territory in which they are born, but also in the attention paid by those who produce them: the grapes, in fact, are grown in a sustainable way, harvested by hand and carefully selected. Starting from the vineyards that fall within the areas designated as Grand Cru, depending on the specific conditions of the year, the company produces its 9 Grosses Gewächse, top quality dry Riesling; or, the classic Prädikat, from Kabinett to Trockenbeerenauslese. Since 2011, the first GG Réserve has been produced with the finest grapes from the Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Ürziger Würzgarten and Erdener Prälat vineyards. In addition to these, we remember the Rieslings from vineyards located outside the Grand Cru area, such as Gutsweine and Ortsweine, characteristic of the terroirs in which they are born.

What are the characteristics of Riesling Dr Loosen?

Dr. Loosen produces a wide range of Rieslings very different from each other in characteristics: from the driest wines with a marked acidity to the sweeter and more intense ones. The 9 Grosses Gewächse are dry Riesling which undergo a spontaneous fermentation process in cask and refinement on full lees for at least one year. Thus they develop unique aromas and a great structure, as in the case of the Ürziger Würzgarten Alte Reben Grosses Gewachs (GG), available on Vino.com. This dry Riesling opens on the nose with fruity notes of peach and wild strawberry, perfectly combined with a mineral and yeast aftertaste. Others, like the classic Prädikat, are sweeter and more enveloping: the Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese and the Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese, available on Vino.com, are two examples. They come from a single vineyard known for giving spicy characteristics to its wines and for this reason called the "spice garden". Not surprisingly, in addition to the varietal and sweet notes of the fruit, the unmistakable spicy texture emerges in both.

Where was the Dr Loosen winery born?

The German company Dr Loosen has two wineries: Dr. Loosen, located in Bernkastel, along the Moselle River and Villa Wolf in the Palatinate, southwest of Germany , above Alsace. Ernst Loosen inherited the winery in Bernkastel in 1988, starting his journey to improve the quality and international reputation of the Moselle region and of Riesling in general. In 1996, he also acquired the JL Wolf winery (now Villa Wolf), giving new life to a winery rich in history, but which in those years was seeing a slowdown in production. Ernst Loosen was able to immediately grasp the potential of this region surrounded by mountains that guarantee a mild and warm climate, ideal for the ripening of the grapes. Here, he started producing his dry Riesling, but also Pinot Bianco , Pinot Grigio and Gewürztraminer , to complete the wide range of wines produced in the cellar in Bernkastel.