2_1_DiscoverGermany_May 2015_Issue26:Scan Magazine 1
27/4/15
15:00
Page 48
Discover Germany | Big Wine Special | Germany
Main image: Vineyard Heinrich Eser in Oestrich-Winkel. Right: Heinrich Eser Riesling Wines (top). The whole family helps during the harvest on the vineyard (middle). Wines maturing in big barrels (below).
Heinrich Eser winemakers Leading a traditional, family-owned winery into an inspiring future Since the beginning of the 20th century, the vineyard Heinrich Eser has stood for crisp Rieslings and handpicked red wines. Today, the fourth generation of Eser vintners work on its steep Rheingau slopes to produce top quality wines, combining long family traditions with new approaches in winemaking. TEXT: JESSICA HOLZHAUSEN | PHOTOS: VINEYARD HEINRICH ESER
The vineyard Heinrich Eser is situated in Oestrich-Winkel, a small village in the wineproducing region of Rheingau. Stemming from the wine-growing traditions that monks initially established in the Rheingau during the Middle Ages, it wasn’t until 1917 that Leonard Eser bought the Doosberg, a vineyard that had formerly belonged to the Mainz diocesan chapter.This purchase laid the foundations for a long family tradition, which saw Heinrich Eser take over the vineyard from his father in 1947. Today, the vineyard is named after him, honouring the quality wines he began producing in the middle of the last century. His two sons, Helmut and Felix, now run the family business and have since enlarged the vineyard to encompass 12 hectares.
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These days, three generations and five Eser families live on the vineyard and while everyone has his or her own job alongside the winemaking, everyone lends a hand when needed – especially during the harvest or with wine tastings. Just last year, Tobias Eser followed in his father Helmut’s footsteps and he now manages the family business with wife Michaela. They both want to honour the family’s traditions while trying out new approaches and techniques in winemaking. “With a guiding touch let nature take its course,”is a sentence that describes their work. The vintner duo strive to create top quality wines that contain an individual character and taste.
Michaela and Tobias Eser are both fully trained winemakers, having gained valuable expertise from their time spent working for other wine-makers in order to obtain vital insight into different techniques. “We want to find our own way in winemaking without shaking the foundations our wines are built on,”explains Michaela Eser. While taking over and enlarging bottle sales, they will also develop new product lines throughout 2015 and introduce new work processes to lead their family’s craft into the future. As one big family living and working on the vineyard, Heinrich Eser wines connect generations. The family’s dedication gives a remarkable nature to the wines, rendering them not only suitable for family meals but also for special events and celebrations. www.heinrich-eser.de