VDP.ESTATE
JOH. BAPT. SCHÄFER

"WE ARE A SMALL FAMILY WINERY, I AM IN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING."

SEBASTIAN SCHÄFER ABOUT HIS WINES AND HIS WINERY IN BURG LAYEN

Joh. Bapt. Schäfer

Burg Layen 8
55452 Rümmelsheim

Phone+49 (0)6721/43552
Fax+49 (0)6721/47841
eMailschaefer@jbs-wein.de
Office Hours
nach Vereinbarung
Owner

Sebastian Schäfer

Cellarmaster

Sebastian Schäfer

Member Since

2013

Wine Area

9,40 acres

Grape Variety

61% Riesling, 30% Burgundy, 9% other grape varieties

Geology

deep loamy soils interspersed with slate, quartzite and pebbles

Growing Areas

Nahe

VDP: What is special about your winery?

Sebastian Schäfer: We are a small family winery - I am responsible for everything myself, from the vineyard to the cellar, the office, sales and and therefore I am actually always personally at all presentations. A special feature of the winery is certainly our vaulted cellar with wooden barrels, which is already over 140 years old! We are now running the winery in the fourth generation. Also noteworthy: the top vintage of 1921 was the first vintage that we marketed by bottle instead of by barrel. At that time, that was still something unusual.

VDP: What is your winery philosophy?

Sebastian Schäfer: To produce authentic wines that perfectly reflect their terroir, that are individual, strong in character. In principle, I try to intervene as little as possible. In this way, nature remains in a healthy balance and regulates itself in many ways.

VDP: What style of wine do you strive for?

Sebastian Schäfer: Individual wines with strong character, not mainstream.

VDP: Do you have a favorite grape variety?

Sebastian Schäfer: Riesling!!!

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

Sebastian Schäfer: Our VDP.GUTSWEIN Riesling trocken. It is the calling card of our winery and expresses very well what style of wine I pursue.

"WE TRADITIONALLY AGE OUR TOP RIESLINGS IN LARGE WOODEN BARRELS – THIS EMPHASIZES THE CHARACTER OF THE INDIVIDUAL WINES."

VDP: Which wine are you particularly proud of?

Sebastian Schäfer: The 2017 PITTERMÄNNCHEN Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese VDP.GROSSE LAGE®. It is extremely elaborate and a great challenge to produce such a rarity of high brilliance and at the same time concentration.

VDP: Why did you become a winemaker?

Sebastian Schäfer: Wine has always played an important role in the family. I grew up with it, could identify with it and realize my own ideas.

PITTERMÄNNCHEN
Riesling GG
VDP.GROSSE LAGE®

VDP: Do you hold on to traditions, and if so, which ones?

Sebastian Schäfer: We traditionally age our top Rieslings in large wooden barrels - this emphasizes the character of the individual wines.

© 2021

Photos: Peter Bender