schiller-wine: Tasting at Weingut Reinhold Haart in Piesport, Mosel, with Johannes Haart - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Reinhold Haart in Piesport, Mosel, with Johannes Haart - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

The Haart family’s viticulture tradition goes back to 1337. Weingut Haart is one of the oldest wine estates in the Mosel valley, and one of the few that was not owned by the church or aristocrats. Today it is Johannes Haart who manages the estate. In 2007 his father Theo was awarded the “winemaker of the year” award of the wine guide Gault-Millau Germany. Signature wine of this estate is the “Piesporter Goldtröpfchen”.

Anyone who loves the James Bond movies might remember that in “Goldfinger” James Bond enjoyed a bottle of the “Goldtröpfchen”. Johannes cherishes the family’s wine making traditions but pushes further towards ecological sensible winemaking. He stays away from pesticides and encourages beneficial organisms such as an insect hotel in the vineyard. The wines of this winery are impressive for their tremendous freshness and ageing potential.

Interview with Johannes Haart

VDP: What is so special about your winery?

Johannes Haart: We are one of the oldest winegrowing families on the Moselle; we have owned vineyards in Piesport since 1337. The Haarts were also among the first to bottle their own wines instead of selling them in barrels. Since about 1894 we have started to auction them. Our VDP.GROSSE LAGE® KREUZWINGERT in Piesport is in sole ownership and at the same time perhaps the smallest single vineyard in Germany, with only 0.098 ha size. In 2013 we set up a modern vinotheque in the 100-year-old winegrower's house directly on the banks of the Moselle.

VDP: What is your winery philosophy?

Johannes Haart: To produce natural, genuine and long-lasting wines. Working together with nature, both in the vineyard and in the cellar - that is our guiding principle.

VDP: What wine style do you strive for?

Johannes Haart: Riesling, in all its complexity and possible styles, always authentic and natural.

VDP: Which of your wines would you recommend to someone who doesn't yet know your winery - as an entry-level wine, so to speak.

Johannes Haart: Our GOLDTRÖPFCHEN Riesling Cabinet.

Before the visit of Weingut Haart, we made a a short stop to take a look at two 2000 year-old wine presses from Roman times. This presses in close proximity to each other and at the edge of the world famous wine site “Piesporter Goldtröpfchen” were only discovered in 1985 and 1991 when road building measures for land consolidation were undertaken.

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Reinhold Haart in Piesport, Mosel, with Johannes Haart - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

VDP: Which wine are you particularly proud of?

Johannes Haart: To our KREUZWINGERT, because he is so completely different.

VDP: Why did you become a vintner?

Johannes Haart: I grew up with wine and in the vineyard or winery. I looked at other professions, but none of them came close to the diversity, the challenge, but also the satisfaction that the winemaking job brings with it.

VDP: Do you have a role model or a mentor?

Johannes Haart: My father.

VDP: How do you combine tradition and innovation?

Johannes Haart: We cultivate a traditional wine style, but use innovations to further develop its quality - and also to react to climate change.

VDP: Why should people still visit your winery?

Johannes Haart: Our house is beautifully situated on the banks of the Moselle. The old Roman winery nearby is well worth a walk before or after a wine tasting!

The Wines we Tasted

We tasted 13 wines, all Riesling, both dry and fruity-sweet.

VDP.Gutswein

2018 Weingut Haart Mosel Riesling trocken
2018 Weingut Haart Haart to Heart feinherb

VDP.Ortswein

2016 Weingut Haart Piesporter trocken
2015 Weingut Haart Piesporter RESERVE

VDP.Grosse Lage

Goldtröpfchen

2016 Weingut Haart GG trocken
2018 Weingut Haart KABINETT
2018 Weingut Haart SPÄTLESE
2010 Weingut Haart SPÄTLESE
2016 Weingut Haart AUSLESE

Ohligsberg

2016 Weingut Haart GG trocken
2007 Weingut Haart AUSLESE
2009 Weingut Haart EISWEIN