The historic Fritz Haag wine estate is located in the heart of the central Mosel River Valley. The earliest documentation of the estate dates back to 1605. At that time, the village in which it is situated was known as “Dusemond.” In 1925, this village was renamed “Brauneberg” (“brown mountain,” a reference to the color of the slate soil in this area of the Mosel) in an endeavor to further promote the reputation of its world-renowned vineyards “Brauneberger Juffer” and “Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr.”
The Fritz Haag estate produces wines that cover the full Riesling style spectrum, from dry to lusciously sweet. A mineral “slate” character and a pronounced acidity give the wines their elegant sophistication and their great aging potential. The estate’s graceful, well-refined Rieslings are among the finest wines the Mosel region has to offer.
The shared name of these famous vineyards, “Juffer,” which translates as “old maid” or “virgin,” in the local dialect, goes back to 1790. The proprietor of these exceptional vineyards at the time, the aristocratic Kurpfälzische Kammerherr Wunderlich, had three daughters who all remained unmarried and lived the lives of spinsters. As a consequence, when they took over the vineyard management from their father, the name “Brauneberger Juffer” was born and the wines soon became famed throughout the wine world. The vineyards are recognized as true pearls of the Mosel region and were treasured even by Napoleon.
For many years, the Fritz Haag wine estate was successfully headed by the endlessly energetic Wilhelm Haag, and achieved under his guidance a world-renowned reputation. Wilhelm Haag was the first to be named Gault Millau’s “Winemaker of the Year,” a highly coveted accolade introduced in 1994. Since 2005, his son Oliver has taken over the reins and has followed his legendary father in leading the estate into the future.
The Fritz Haag estate owns 17.5 ha (43 acres) of vineyards which are all exclusively planted with Riesling. The excellent micro-climate and the deep slate soils of the Brauneberg hillside yield some of the most intensely flavored and elegantly structured Riesling wines of the Mosel region. Oliver Haag rigorously selects the clones most suited to the microclimate of his vineyards in order to achieve the maximum potential in the grapes. His wines, which display a pleasing subtle color, show a well-defined palate that reaches from honeysuckle to pears and apples. They are laced with citrus and underlying mineral tones, reflecting the slate vineyards of Brauneberg.
Accolades for Fritz Haag
Top 100 Winery 2021, 2023 — Wine & Spirits Magazine
Collection of the Year 2009 — WeinPlus
Collection of the Year 2008 — Gault Millau Wine Guide & WeinGourmet
Winemaker of the Year 1994 — Gault Millau Wine Guide (first year of the award)
www.weingut-fritz-haag.de
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