The German Portfolio: Who to Know, What to Pour – Loosen Bros. USA Monthly Newsletter

Explore six of Germany’s most iconic winegrowing regions and the benchmark producers who define them. Each offers a unique expression of Riesling and beyond – ideal for summer lists, hand-sells, and collector allocations.

 

The Mosel

Elegant, Slate-Driven Rieslings with Delicacy and Lift

 

Germany’s most famous region, the Mosel is known for its steep slate slopes and cool climate, producing some of the world’s most refined, age-worthy Rieslings. Many wines are naturally light in alcohol but rich in character, often showing floral aromatics, zippy acidity, and a signature mineral finish.

Dr. Loosen

The Dr. Loosen estate has been in the same family for over 200 years. When Ernst Loosen assumed ownership in 1988, he realized that with undrafted vines averaging 60 years old in some of Germany’s best-rated vineyards, he had the raw materials to create stunningly intense, world-class wines. To achieve this, Ernst dramatically restricts crop size, prohibits chemical fertilization, insists on very strict fruit selection, and employs gentle cellar practices that allow the wine to develop its full potential with a minimum of handling.

• Global benchmark for Riesling excellence – terroir-driven and expressive.
• Entry-level Rieslings, Red Slate Riesling Dry and Blue Slate Kabinett, are approachable crowd-pleasers that showcase Riesling’s style versatility.
• GGs and Prädikat Rieslings are age-worthy, site-specific wines from top Mosel vineyards.

 

Fritz Haag

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.

• Historic, family-run estate in the village of Brauneberg, with records dating back to 1605.
• Known for precision, purity, and balance in both fruity and dry Rieslings.
• Elegant Kabinett and Spätlese styles offer versatility for pairing and broad consumer appeal. Dry styles (Trocken and GGs) are gaining traction for their structure and expressive minerality.

 

 

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The Saar

Delicate Rieslings with Lightning-Bright Acidity

 

A sub-region of the Mosel, the Saar is even cooler, with extreme diurnal shifts. The cooler climate and breezy exposures allow grapes to ripen slowly, preserving vivid acidity and fine aromatics. Wines here are feather-light yet complex, often showing citrus zest, white flowers, and crystalline minerality. Perfect for by-the-glass lists.

Zilliken

Weingut Zilliken is one of the leading estates of the Saar region. Renowned for the steely precision of their Rieslings grown in the very cool climate and slate soils of the area, the Zilliken estate built its reputation with intense, yet delicate and nearly weightless Rieslings that “float like a butterfly.” The estate is currently managed by Dorothee Zilliken, who has been working with her father, Hans-Joachim “Hanno” Zilliken, since 2007. She took on full responsibility in 2016, with the ongoing guidance of Hannah, and the indispensable help of her mother, Ruth, and husband, Philipp.

• A family estate since 1742 and a founding member of the Mosel VDP (1908).
• Graceful wines of crystalline purity that express the rocky soils and cool climate with concentration, intensity, and length.
• All wines are made with indigenous yeasts in traditional 100L Fuder casks.
• Intense, yet delicate and nearly weightless Rieslings that “float like a butterfly.”

The Ruwer

Slate, Spice, and Structure from a Hidden Gem of the Mosel

 

The Ruwer Valley, tucked just outside of the village of Trier, offers some of Germany’s most quietly powerful wines. Cooler and forested, this area yields Rieslings with herbal nuance, firm acid structure, and age-worthy depth. Ruwer Rieslings tend to show a fine-grained texture and earthy complexity that appeals to purists and collectors alike.

Maximin Grünhaus

The historic Maximin Grünhaus estate lies at the foot of a long, steep south-facing slope on the left bank of the tiny Ruwer river, about two kilometers upstream from where it joins the Mosel. The estate belongs to the family of Carl von Schubert and is divided into three separate but contiguous vineyards: Abtsberg, Herrenberg, and Bruderberg. Each of these vineyards has its own distinct differences in terroir, which explain the unique character of the wines made at Maximin Grünhaus.

• Steeped in monastic history, the estate’s first documentation dates back to 966 – that’s over 2,000 years of winemaking tradition.
• Minerality and spice shine through Grünhaus Rieslings thanks to Devonian slate and the Ruwer’s unmistakable, elegant acidity.
• All Grosse Lage (grand cru) vineyard sites are wholly owned by the von Schubert family. These Monopole sites are surrounded by the estate’s private Grünhaus forest.

 

Recommended Wines from the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer

2023 Dr. Loosen Blue Slate Riesling Kabinett

This classic Mosel Kabinett is light, fresh and juicy, with a crisp finish. The blue slate soil provides vital nutrients to the vines and gives this wine a pronounced mineral edge. READ MORE.

2023 Fritz Haag Estate Riesling Trocken

Harvested from steep, slate-soil vineyards in the winery’s home village of Brauneberg, this wine balances naturally brisk Mosel Riesling acidity with excellent concentration. READ MORE.

2020 Zilliken Estate Riesling

Like the song says: summertime and the Riesling is easy. This is the fruity counterpart to the Butterfly Riesling, offering pretty flavors of citrus and orchard fruits. READ MORE.

2023 Maximin Grünhaus Schloss Riesling

A precise and delicately defined dry-style Riesling harvested from the estate’s wholly-owned hillside of contiguous vineyards. READ MORE.

 

The Pfalz

Germany’s Sunniest Region – Generous, Fruit-Forward Wines

 

Germany’s second-largest wine region, the Pfalz stretches along the Haardt Mountains, offering a warm, dry climate ideal for producing fuller-bodied, fruit-driven wines. Shielded from rain by the nearby forest, it enjoys one of the country’s sunniest growing seasons. While Riesling thrives here in a richer, more rounded style, the region is equally known for its outstanding Pinot varieties (Noir, Blanc, and Gris), all showing ripeness, spice, and texture.

Villa Wolf

Founded in 1756 and revitalized under the direction of Ernst Loosen, Villa Wolf is a dynamic estate in the Pfalz producing value-driven, varietally expressive wines. The focus is on dry Riesling and Pinot varieties, made in a clean, fruit-forward style that reflects the region’s warm, sunny climate. Sustainable vineyard practices and minimal intervention in the cellar allow for fresh, approachable wines with broad appeal – ideal for by-the-glass lists, retail placements, and everyday German wine education.

• A historic Rhine Valley winery that was acquired by Erni Loosen in 1996.
• Entry line of exceptional values from classic Pfalz varieties are frequently named “Best Buys” in major publications.
• Organically grown, single-vineyard estate wines are released after adequate bottle maturation.

 

The Rheingau

Grand Vineyards, Regal Rieslings, and Classic Tradition

 

The Rheingau is one of Germany’s most historic and prestigious wine regions, long considered a benchmark for world-class Riesling. Perched along a unique east-to-west stretch of the Rhine, its south-facing slopes soak up optimal sunlight, while the river moderates temperatures to ensure long, even ripening. Soils vary from slate and quartzite to loess and clay, giving wines a range of expressions – from steely and linear to round and textured. The region is best known for its dry Grosses Gewächs (GG) Rieslings, which offer structure, elegance, and long aging potential, but also excels in off-dry and noble sweet styles. The Rheingau’s legacy is rooted in historic winemaking and continues today through a blend of tradition and modern precision.

Robert Weil

Founded in 1875 and still family-run, Robert Weil is a cornerstone of the Rheingau and one of Germany’s most revered Riesling producers. The estate’s vineyards, including the grand cru Kiedrich Gräfenberg, are planted on steep, stony slopes that yield powerful, age-worthy wines. Weil is known for its precise, structured dry Rieslings as well as exceptional noble sweet wines, all crafted with a commitment to tradition, sustainability, and international excellence. A must-have for fine wine programs and collectors alike.

• One of Germany’s most prestigious estates, founded in 1875 and still family-run.
• Located in the village of Kiedrich, with vineyards on steep, stony slopes facing south – ideal for structured, long-lived Rieslings.
• The entry-level range of estate Riesling offers an approachable but serious introduction to the Rheingau and Robert Weil style.

 

The Rheinhessen

Germany’s Largest and Most Dynamic Region

 

Germany’s largest and most diverse wine region, Rheinhessen, has transformed over the past two decades into a powerhouse for organic and biodynamic viticulture and high-quality dry wines. It’s now a hub for innovation, driven by a new generation of winemakers focused on terroir transparency and sustainability. The rolling hills between the Rhine and Nahe rivers offer a mosaic of soils (limestone, loess, clay, and sandstone) that lend depth and character to the wines. Riesling remains the flagship variety, but Pinot varieties and Silvaner also shine. Rheinhessen’s modern identity is rooted in precision, energy, and confidence that continues to gain global acclaim.

Wittmann

The Wittmann family has been growing grapes and producing wine in the small Rheinhessen village of Westhofen since 1663. Today, the estate cultivates 62 acres of vines in the rolling limestone hills found in the southern part of the region, just west of the Rhine River valley. They have been pioneers in developing the full-bodied, well-balanced style of dry wines for which the region has become known. And they were early adopters of organic (1990) and biodynamic (2004) viticulture.

• Certified Biodynamic producer located in Westhofen, with a focus on dry, textured Rieslings that express their terroir.
• Though rooted in history since 1663, the estate embraces a contemporary, hands-off philosophy in the cellar, relying on native yeasts and extended lees contact.
• Essential for any program focused on biodynamics, terroir transparency, or top-tier dry Riesling.

 

Recommended Wines from the Rhine Valley

2023 Villa Wolf Pinot Noir Rosé

Light and refreshing with deliciously bright berry and fruit flavors, with a clean, zippy finish. Perfect for patio sipping. READ MORE.

2023 Robert Weil Riesling Spätlese

A lush and juicy Riesling made from grapes that hang longer on the vine for greater ripeness and more intense flavors. READ MORE.

2023 Wittmann Westhofener Riesling Trocken 1G

A stunning and complex “premier cru” (1G) dry Riesling that was selected from two grand cru (Grosse Lage) vineyard sites, showcasing the Wittmann and Rheinhessen styles. READ MORE.

 

From the slate slopes of the Mosel to the sun-drenched vineyards of the Pfalz, Germany offers unmatched diversity, precision, and value – especially in Riesling. These producers represent the best of their regions, with wines that range from bright and approachable to deeply structured and cellar-worthy. Whether you’re building a by-the-glass list, expanding a collector program, or seeking fresh seasonal pours, these estates deliver.