“A great wine begins in your head.”

Ernst “Erni” Loosen’s credo: “A great wine begins in your head,” means that anyone who wants to coax the best quality from a vineyard needs a clear plan. Erni, a trained archaeologist, has always investigated the question: How did our ancestors manage to make Mosel Riesling one of the most sought-after and expensive wines in the world more than a hundred years ago? He found the answer in old writings and bottles. For Erni, meticulous vineyard work, the perfect harvest time, and extended lees aging are vital pieces of the complex mosaic for making wines with true character and longevity.

Today, he crafts exceptional wines not only from Riesling, but also from outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. He does this at his family’s historic Dr. Loosen estate – over 220 years old and home to several Grand Cru vineyards – as well as in the Pfalz region of Germany, Oregon, Washington State, and Australia’s Clare Valley. 

A multi-award-winning winemaker, Erni Loosen is now Germany’s ambassador for Riesling worldwide. With the Vieux Château in Puligny-Montrachet, he is now opening a spectacular new chapter with Perron de Mypont.