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Nestled in the German municipality of Brauneberg, Weingut Willi Haag has been producing wines for the last 500 years! Marcus Haag, the grandson of Willi Haag, is currently at the helm of this historic wine producer in the Mosel wine region and was the host for our wine experience. Marcus graciously welcomed us upon our arrival and led us to his private tasting room, where we would have the opportunity to learn more about his production methods and the winery's history. Our host paid particular attention to our dog Brodi, giving him many loving rubs and special treats! Brodi found a new friend at Weingut Willi Haag, his favorite experience throughout our three-day German expedition! 4 PAWS UP!!!
Weingut Willi Haag owns 6.5 hectares (16 acres) of vineyards on the extremely steep hills of the Mosel region. From the total harvest, half of the grapes are left on the vines well into the autumn to make sweet wines. The winery uses the other half of the grapes to produce dry, off-dry, and medium-sweet wines. The most important vineyard of Weingut Willi Haag's holdings is the Juffer Sonnenuhr vineyard, one of the region's top vineyards where the only permitted grape varietal is Riesling. The VDP classified this vineyard as Grosse Lage®, representing the very top of the quality pyramid in all of Germany's wine-producing regions. Please see the images from the VDP’s website to get a better perspective of the vineyard and its 85% gradient hills here. Fun Fact: A Franciscan nunnery once owned the vineyard, and a theory exists that’s where the name Juffer originated, meaning “virgin” in the continental western Germanic dialect of Ripuarian.
During the wine-tasting experience, Marcus presented ten wines representative of his production line. It is important to note our host's extreme generosity in opening so many bottles for us during this tasting. Most German producers do not charge visitors for wine tastings, and I graciously thank Marcus for having this opportunity to taste so many wines! My favorite wine from the selection was the 2020 Juffer Sonnenuhr Grosses Gewachs Riesling. According to Marcus, yeasts ingenious to the vineyard and winery conducted the fermentation process. Our host explained that he generally does not interfere during the winemaking process, allowing nature to take its course to express the region's unique terroir. I found this wine's intense aromas and flavors of yellow apples, pears, and hints of blossom most appealing. Additionally, the high degree of refreshing acidity and the most pleasant endless aftertaste made this Riesling a true pleasure to taste.
Please check out the YouTube video of our experience here.
Experience Rating: 3 Stars
Brodi’s Rating: 4 Paws Up!!!!
Pet-Friendly: Yes
Experience Vibe: Private Experience, Seated Wine Tasting
Reservations Needed: Yes
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