Dr. Loosen

The Loosen family has been growing Riesling and producing wine in the Mosel valley for over 200 years, and since 1988 Ernst ‘Erni’ Loosen has led the estate with the ambition of elevating its quality and international reputation. Dr. Loosen combines two family traditions: the paternal focus on dry styles and influences from the maternal Prem lineage that inspire Pradikat expressions, offering a full spectrum of Riesling styles.

The estate works exclusively with grapes from its own vineyards in the Middle Mosel, farmed sustainably and harvested by hand. Many of the vines are ungrafted and as old as 130 years, rooted in slate soils that retain heat and yield wines of concentration and minerality. The steep, southerly slopes paired with the cool regional climate give a long growing season, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly while preserving acidity.

In the cellar, Loosen emphasizes vision over technique, allowing terroir to speak clearly in the wine. Dry wines undergo spontaneous fermentation in wooden barrels and are aged on their lees, some up to 24 months, without batonnage to preserve a reductive balance. The wines are then typically held further in bottle before release, allowing harmony to develop and subtle aromas to emerge.