“The Schaefers are a true Mosel Riesling winemaking dynasty – local documents date the family’s involvement in vineyards back at least as far as 1590. Today it’s Christoph Schaefer running the show… … That such a small place could be home to some of the world’s greatest wines and, in fact, one of the finest producers of Riesling on the planet, might be a bit surprising. However, if you know anything about these steep Devonian slate slopes and the reputation of Weingut Willi Schaefer, you’ll understand that Graach indeed sits on hallowed ground.... Willi Schaefer: top-flight Rieslings in high demand”
"There aren't many German wineries, to say the least, whose wines compete not only nationally, but also internationally, holding their own against the very best. Andrea and Christoph Schaefer's wines are definitely among them! For years, the Rieslings produced by this small family estate have been undeniably world-class. And they're off-dry! The Kabinett and Spätlese wines from top Wehlen and Graach vineyards are perfectly balanced between fruit, sweetness, and acidity, with a precisely defined acidity that, with elegant verve and lightness, catapults the harmoniously balanced fruit into heavenly, juicy realms of flavor. Off-dry Rieslings simply can't be made any better!"
"For the Schaefers, modesty and discretion are essential. But make no mistake: this tiny family estate... is at the pinnacle of German winemaking. On the historic terroirs of Graach on the Moselle, Andrea and Christoph Schaefer create some of the purest wines in the country. Thanks to the legacy of old, sometimes century-old, ungrafted vines, attentive and meticulous vineyard management, and great finesse in winemaking, they produce vintages of unparalleled energy and brilliance. Their 2006 Riesling Graacher Domprobst Auslese is the archetype of a great wine full of emotion: profound, light, and invigorating."
“…continuously, year in and year out, the wines of this Graacher estate by Christoph and Andrea Schaefer earn merits in these delicately fruity categories (Kabinett and Spätlese – note from the winery). A short research showed that in five consecutive years up to last year’s edition in 2025, at least two wines always appeared in our list of the top ten. … And this year it is again the auction Kabinett -01- from the Graacher Domprobst as well as the two Spätlese wines, Domprobst -5- and the Graacher Himmelreich auction Spätlese, which were invited to the final tasting… The tasting notes are seeming to be like a love letter…”
„Ever since I have been drinking wine, I have been drinking Rieslings from Willi Schaefer. No Riesling is brighter, finer, more heavenly or more incomprehensible and yet stands with its feet in the slate that produces unmistakable wines of absolute world class in the Graacher Himmelreich and Graacher Domprobst. One would recognize their smoky spiciness even in one’s sleep and immediately want to open a bottle of Kabinett! The 2021 vintage was small in volume, but the qualities were superb! I didn’t study any wines longer this year than the 2021s from Christoph and Andrea Schaefer. Namely, the Kabinett Rieslings from this cool vintage are terrific. Although not dry, I first understood the darker-toned Domprobst in particular as a full-blown food wine, as deep and complex as it is for all its lightness. Great art, distributed over two fuders: AP#1 and AP#3. This is too little for the world, but to never forget the wine again, one sip is enough.“
