Collection: Weingut Peter Lauer, Ayl, Saar

"This small traditional Saar wine producer in Ayl bottles some of the finest, most classic Rieslings in Germany: pure, precise, piquant, racy, mineral, and chiseled, but also ripe, concentrated, compact, and complex." - Stephan Reinhart, The Finest Wines of Germany

Nestled in the historic village of Ayl within Germany's Mosel region, Weingut Peter Lauer stands as a fifth-generation family estate renowned for crafting Riesling that epitomize the Saar's unique interplay of minerality, tension, and elegance. Established in 1830, the estate is now helmed by Florian Lauer, who, alongside his father Peter, meticulously oversees 12 hectares of steep, slate-rich vineyards, including iconic sites like the Ayler Kupp, Schonfels, and the reclaimed Lambertskirch.

The Lauers' philosophy centers on Riesling exclusivity and terroir transparency. Their vineyards, rooted in blue-gray Devonian slate, are cultivated sustainably without herbicides or synthetic chemicals, relying instead on organic fertilizers and manual labor to preserve biodiversity. Florian’s commitment to tradition is evident in practices like spontaneous fermentation using native yeasts and aging in large oak Fuder casks, which develop distinct microbial signatures over generations, ensuring consistency and depth in wines like the Barrel X (a village-level cuvée) and the Senior (a single-vineyard gem from 70-year-old vines).  As Florian puts it himself, these are 'Riesling for advanced learners'. 

A hallmark of the estate is its dedication to reviving historic vineyards. The Schonfels parcel, with 107-year-old vines, is farmed at perilous gradients requiring harnessed harvesters, while the abandoned Lambertskirch was painstakingly replanted to reclaim its 19th-century prestige. These sites yield wines of razor-sharp acidity and layered complexity, such as the VDP.GROSSE LAGE® KUPP Riesling GG, celebrated for its saline drive and aging potential.

Stylistically, Lauer's portfolio spans dry to off-dry expressions, eschewing the Prädikat system to focus on site-specific profiles. The Unterstenberg and Kern bottlings showcase the Kupp's mineral intensity, while Saarfeils, with its alluvial gravel soils, produces broader, textural wines. Florian's innovative spirit extends to sparkling wines aged up to 30 years on lees, a nod to the estate's mastery of time and tradition.

What is VDP?
The VDP association is the most influential and prestigious wine grower association in Germany.
Currently, the VDP has only 197 members, which represent less than 4% of the total wine production in Germany.
Regulations set by the VDP members on site selection, yields, and must weights are much higher than those required by the German wine Law.

What is GG (Grosses Gewächs)?
Grosses Gewächs: the German classification system similar to "Grand Cru" in France

Weingut Peter Lauer：Saar 河畔的百年 Riesling 傳奇

在德國 Mosel 產區的古老村落 Ayl，Weingut Peter Lauer 靜立於 Saar 支流的蜿蜒處，自 1830 年創立以來，五代人始終以 Riesling 為筆，在板岩地層上書寫風土的史詩。現任莊主 Florian Lauer 與父親 Peter 共同守護著 12 公頃陡坡葡萄園，涵蓋 Ayler Kupp、Schonfels 及復耕的 Lambertskirch 等傳奇地塊。這些園地扎根於 Devonian 時期的藍灰色板岩（Schiefer），土壤中閃爍的礦物碎片，賦予酒液如燧石擦撞般的鹹冷鋒芒。

酒莊恪守「純粹主義」哲學，全數栽種 Riesling，禁用除草劑與合成化學物質，僅以有機堆肥滋養土壤。採收時節，工人需繫上安全繩索，在坡度達 70% 的 Schonfels 園中採摘 107 歲老藤的果實，年產量僅 1,200 瓶的珍釀，被視為 Saar 的風土聖經。而 19 世紀遭遺棄的 Lambertskirch 地塊，經十年艱辛復耕，如今以混雜紅色板岩碎塊的獨特土壤，釀造出帶有鋼鐵般酸度架構的酒款，彷彿重現了失落的釀酒文明。

在酒窖中，Florian 延續百年傳統：天然酵母在千年板岩砌成的牆壁間甦醒，酒液於家族傳承的 Fuder 大型橡木桶（1,000 升）中緩慢熟成，這些木桶經數代人使用，內壁已形成獨特微生物生態，賦予酒款如指紋般的辨識度。代表作 Barrel X 以混釀 Ayl 村莊多地塊基酒聞名，年產 8,000 瓶卻供不應求；而單一園 Senior 則取自 70 年老藤，年僅 600 瓶的產量，每一口皆能品嘗到時間壓縮成的礦物晶體。

Florian 大膽摒棄德國傳統 Prädikat 分級制度，轉以地塊特性定義酒款風格。Unterstenberg 展現板岩冷冽的礦物濃縮感，Saarfeils 則因沖積礫石土壤而呈現豐潤質地。他更復興 Mosel 失傳工藝，推出酒渣陳釀 30 年的傳統法氣泡酒，讓二次發酵的氣泡在瓶中見證三代人的光陰流轉。

當談及自家酒款，Florian 戲稱這是「給進階者的 Riesling」——它們不追求討喜的甜潤，而是以精準酸度剖開板岩地層的記憶，在 VDP.GROSSE LAGE® 特級園認證的榮耀下，低調述說 Saar 河畔的千年地質對話。