German wine is often one of the final frontiers of knowledge and mastery for enthusiastic wine drinkers. The amount of world class vineyards is overwhelming and akin to what one experiences in trying to master the crus of Burgundy, on top of the fact that these vineyards have challenging names which are usually interwoven with the name of the village in which they reside. The styles of wine from each site can vary immensely based on terroir and the wine making practices of each producer (Kabinett vs Spatlese, dry vs off dry, etc.). Over the next few Sundays we’re going to tackle this complexity head on by featuring a sale on a few of the most famous vineyards in German wine. This is your opportunity to strap in and learn just what makes these sites so special, all while picking up a few bottles at prices that can’t be beat.
Let’s begin…..with Graacher Himmelreich.
Perched above the village of Graach, just south of Wehlen, the Graacher Himmelreich vineyard is one of the Mosel’s most revered sites—a name that translates fittingly to “Kingdom of Heaven.” The slope here faces southwest, basking in long afternoon light that ripens Riesling to luminous precision, while the cool air descending from the forested slopes above preserves a razor’s edge of acidity. Himmelreich stretches across the hillside like a long-handled pan: a narrow strip runs along the upper slope above the Domprobst and Josephshöfer vineyards and the village of Graach, before widening into a broader, more square-shaped section that descends toward the Mosel on the upstream side of the village, covering the full face of the hill. The soils are classic Mosel: crumbly blue slate that radiates warmth to the vines and lends the wines their trademark mineral shimmer. Yet, compared to its neighbors, Himmelreich produces wines with a unique combination of generosity and grace—succulent and finely etched all at once.
Few names in the Mosel capture the spirit of Graach as completely as Willi Schaefer. His wines from Himmelreich are paragons of balance: crystalline, buoyant, and brimming with orchard fruit, white peach, and spring flowers. They show a delicacy that feels effortless—an interplay of sweetness and acidity that dances rather than clashes. These are wines that, even in their youth, convey a serene confidence; with age, they reveal kaleidoscopic layers of honey, herbs, and stone.
Joh. Jos. Prüm, perhaps the most iconic name in the Mosel, also draws much of its magic from Graacher Himmelreich. Prüm’s bottlings tend to be more restrained in youth—often shy, even austere—but patience rewards the collector. Over time, their smoky slate notes soften into a luxurious texture of cream, citrus oil, and blossom, a slow-blooming portrait of Mosel purity. Few wines anywhere in the world evolve so dramatically in bottle, or so beautifully.
Then there is Markus Molitor, who crafts Himmelreich Rieslings in a kaleidoscope of styles, from feinherb to Trockenbeerenauslese. His meticulous attention to ripeness and texture highlights just how versatile this vineyard can be. Molitor’s dry Himmelreich bottlings offer a more tactile, powerful interpretation—still mineral, but with deeper bass tones of stone fruit and spice—while his off-dry and sweet cuvées shimmer with electric tension.
Together, these producers illustrate the genius of Graacher Himmelreich: its ability to express both delicacy and depth, sweetness and steel. Whether you seek the crystalline grace of Schaefer, the timeless nobility of Prüm, or the precision and polish of Molitor, Himmelreich is a vineyard that delivers transcendence at every register. These are Rieslings that will age not just gracefully, but joyfully—bottled proof that heaven might, in fact, be found in Graach.
Let’s begin…..with Graacher Himmelreich.
Perched above the village of Graach, just south of Wehlen, the Graacher Himmelreich vineyard is one of the Mosel’s most revered sites—a name that translates fittingly to “Kingdom of Heaven.” The slope here faces southwest, basking in long afternoon light that ripens Riesling to luminous precision, while the cool air descending from the forested slopes above preserves a razor’s edge of acidity. Himmelreich stretches across the hillside like a long-handled pan: a narrow strip runs along the upper slope above the Domprobst and Josephshöfer vineyards and the village of Graach, before widening into a broader, more square-shaped section that descends toward the Mosel on the upstream side of the village, covering the full face of the hill. The soils are classic Mosel: crumbly blue slate that radiates warmth to the vines and lends the wines their trademark mineral shimmer. Yet, compared to its neighbors, Himmelreich produces wines with a unique combination of generosity and grace—succulent and finely etched all at once.
Few names in the Mosel capture the spirit of Graach as completely as Willi Schaefer. His wines from Himmelreich are paragons of balance: crystalline, buoyant, and brimming with orchard fruit, white peach, and spring flowers. They show a delicacy that feels effortless—an interplay of sweetness and acidity that dances rather than clashes. These are wines that, even in their youth, convey a serene confidence; with age, they reveal kaleidoscopic layers of honey, herbs, and stone.
Joh. Jos. Prüm, perhaps the most iconic name in the Mosel, also draws much of its magic from Graacher Himmelreich. Prüm’s bottlings tend to be more restrained in youth—often shy, even austere—but patience rewards the collector. Over time, their smoky slate notes soften into a luxurious texture of cream, citrus oil, and blossom, a slow-blooming portrait of Mosel purity. Few wines anywhere in the world evolve so dramatically in bottle, or so beautifully.
Then there is Markus Molitor, who crafts Himmelreich Rieslings in a kaleidoscope of styles, from feinherb to Trockenbeerenauslese. His meticulous attention to ripeness and texture highlights just how versatile this vineyard can be. Molitor’s dry Himmelreich bottlings offer a more tactile, powerful interpretation—still mineral, but with deeper bass tones of stone fruit and spice—while his off-dry and sweet cuvées shimmer with electric tension.
Together, these producers illustrate the genius of Graacher Himmelreich: its ability to express both delicacy and depth, sweetness and steel. Whether you seek the crystalline grace of Schaefer, the timeless nobility of Prüm, or the precision and polish of Molitor, Himmelreich is a vineyard that delivers transcendence at every register. These are Rieslings that will age not just gracefully, but joyfully—bottled proof that heaven might, in fact, be found in Graach.
5% off any 3-5 in-stock selections from Graacher Himmelreich
10% off any 6 or more in-stock selections from Graacher Himmelreich
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Sale ends Wednesday, October 15th at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 6 or more in-stock selections from Graacher Himmelreich
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Wednesday, October 15th at 9 am Pacific.
We offer many wines from Graacher Himmelreich, including:
Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $54.50, that’s $51.77 at 5% off and $49.05 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 2023 1.5L Displayed Price: $175, that’s $166.25 at 5% off and $157.50 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2023 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett opens with substantial depth and a brilliant bouquet of wet slate. The fruit is intense but not dominating, thanks to the flintiness and savoriness of the Himmelreich terroir. On the palate, this is a mouth-filling, dense and complex Kabinett with ripe, elegant and juicy fruit intertwined with very fine phenols and an ethereal slate thread that gives this Kabinett an enormous length and animation. This will be a superb gastronomic wine after a decade of bottle age, although the 2023 already drinks beautifully today. 7.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in August 2024 from AP 2 24.”
Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $56, that’s $53.20 at 5% off and $50.40 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “The extremely fresh white-peach, herbal and savory nose pulls you into this sleek and vibrant Spätlese that’s brimming with white-flower and wet-stone character. Dances over your palate with the greatest of ease. Very long,pure and poised finish. Drink or hold.”
JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 5 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “This wonderful Mosel Kabinett has a wide spectrum of white tree fruit, wild berry and herb aromas. Impressive concentration on the very focused light-bodied palate. I love the racy acidity and pronounced slatey minerality that is wrapped around the very long and clean finish. Drink or hold.”
JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese 2020 375ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “This feels like it’s holding back a little on the floral, apricot, lime and slate flavors. Light-bodied and graceful, this is well-structured and focused on the lingering finish. Reveals just a touch of earthiness that should disappear with aeration (as this did) or age. Best from 2024 through 2045. —B.S.”
JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $125, that’s $118.75 at 5% off and $112.50 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “A pretty white, this exudes elderflower, peach, lime, cumin and slate aromas and flavors. Creamy and elegant, with lively acidity providing structure and definition. Very consistent from beginning to end. Drink now through 2045. —B.S.”
Markus Molitor Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese** (Gold Capsule) 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock nowWine Advocate 96 points “”The yellow-golden 2019 Graacher Himmelreich Auslese ** (Golden Capsule) is brilliantly clear yet also intense and concentrated on the pure, fresh, finely raisined and herbal (rosemary), slightly honeyed nose that is complex and ambitious. Dense and juicy, with a vivacious purity and great finesse, this is a concentrated, vibrantly fresh and tightly structured Auslese with a remarkably digestible finish. There might be some percentage of botrytis that gives this Auslese a lush texture that is otherwise terribly clear and vital. I’d keep it for at least 7 years and up to 40, if only I could. Attention, though, the wine has serious acidity. Tasted from AP 39 20 in May 2021.”
Markus Molitor Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese*** (Green Capsule) 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2016 Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Auslese *** (Green Capsule) is deep and complex on the nose, though discreet in its fruit expression straight from the bottle. However, the fruit is beautifully flinty, fresh and really fine. Lush and round on the palate, this is a full-bodied, ripe and intense yet well-balanced and elegant Himmelreich whose sweetness of roughly 30 grams per liter is still prominent at this young age. However, the wine is intense, long, firmly structured, very mineral and provided with serious tannins and a lot of stones. I am tasting it far too early (and straight after the three-starred Rosenberg Auslese), but it’s a highly promising Riesling from a great vintage for the Mosel. Bottled in September 2017; tasted March 2018.”
Markus Molitor Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese*** (Green Capsule) 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $81.10 at 10% off, 13 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2017 Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Auslese *** (Green Capsule) is intensely yellow in color and, straight from the bottle, still has prominent smoky oak aromas but also highly intense yet refined fruit on the nose as it opens. This aromatic bouquet combines perfectly ripe and concentrated Riesling scents with the crunchy-coolish slate notes of the Himmelreich and, after a couple of days of aeration, adds concentrated lemon zest and pink grapefruit aromas. Rich and lush but highly elegant on the palate, this is a precise, finessed, nobly textured and juicy Himmelreich with very fine tannins and a long, complex and elegant finish. This is a nearly perfect, nearly dry Auslese, and the seamless texture makes this highly concentrated and refined Riesling flow down your throat without any effort. Give it air, give it time, give it years! This Auslese just flows. And one day, it will stay in your memories forever. Fabulous. Divine. Unforgettable. Tasted three times in April 2019.”
Markus Molitor Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese*** (Green Capsule) 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 24 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 98 points “Typically bright and open on the nose, with crunchy and flinty slate aromas, the coolish and precise 2018 Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Auslese *** (Green Capsule) is a very fine and elegant, crystalline, fresh and precise, very long and salty Riesling with sweet and concentrated fruit and a long, intense and tightly structured finish. This is a laser-sword Riesling that needs about a decade to refine, yet it will deliver for sure. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
Markus Molitor Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese*** (Green Capsule) 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 22 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 99 points “The 2019 Graacher Himmelreich Auslese *** (Green Capsule) opens enormously deep, intense and complex on the nose that immediately indicates the wine is in an exceptional class on its own. Only with lots of aeration does the wine become more and more pure and fresh and develop a flinty lemon note with the finest perfume. On the palate, this is a rich, round and complex, sweet, wide and mouth-filling, very generous, free and easy-flowing Himmelreich of exceptional finesse and beauty. The finish is so stimulating, salty, pure and crunchy in its slate character, whereas the crater dug by the piquancy is filled in by the perfectly ripe and healthy fruit with lush intensity. The 2019 Himmelreich Auslese *** is sensational and the finest I have ever tasted from Markus Molitor. Tasted from AP 1 20 in May 2021.”