In the tiny but beautiful Wintrange, across from the village’s Chateau, you will find Domaine Viticole Schumacher-Knepper, another gem on the Luxembourg wine scene.
The Domaine is surrounded by breathtaking views of vineyards and is perched right below the sculpture of Donatus who is said to protect the grapes from storms and hail. After enjoying a tasting of the wines produced by the Schumacher family, I can attest that Donatus is doing his job well.
The Schumacher family has been producing wine since 1714. Across from the new and modern tasting room, you can even spot a ‘1714’ engraving on a portion of the original estate.
Currently, Martine Schumacher and her brother Frank, run this wonderful winery. Although Martine originally studied Commercial Sciences and Frank was planning to study Mathematics, they both eventually decided to follow the last 7 generations of their family into the wine business. It seems as though they’ve created a perfect partnership in which Martine manages the business, leaving Frank to create the wine.
Frank uses 8 varieties of grapes to produce a wide-range of wines, many of which are award-winning. Martine and her brother believe in sticking with tradition and the importance of staying true to themselves and the brand their family has created. This however has not stopped them from stepping outside of the box. I tasted a Pinot Noir- Blanc de Noirs from 2015, a dry and balanced white wine that is incredibly complex producing interesting and unexpected aromas on the palate as you enjoy. This is not a typical wine you’ll find in Luxembourg, and in my opinion it’s a must-try.
As with most of the smaller wineries in Luxembourg, you can find a small portion of Schumacher- Knepper wines in local shops and restaurants, but for the best selection you should pay a visit to actual estate.
The tasting room is open Monday-Friday from 9am-12pm and 2-5:30pm, and on Saturdays from 9am-12:30pm. For tours of winery or tastings outside of the usual hours you must call for an appointment.
Domaine Viticole Schumacher-Knepper 28, Route du Vin Wintrange, L-5495
contact@schumacher-knepper.lu www.cremant.lu
Besides the Pinot Noir-Blanc de Noirs, the Riesling Areo 2015 is another must try:
88 points at Best of Riesling 2016 1 star in Guide Hachette des Vins 2017
The Areo Riesling is processed like a straw wine. The secret to this wine is harvesting Riesling grapes at normal ripeness levels to capture a healthy acidity. The grapes are dried inside in a dry room until they are half raisined, concentrating flavours, acidity and sugar. Pressuring takes place after a two month drying time resulting in a highly sweet and dense juice. A traditional fermentation and wine-making process follows.
The Areo Riesling 2015 appears in a brilliant, intense colour with a rich viscous appearance. Ripe peaches and apricots can be detected on the nose. On the palate you discover concentrated aromas of honey, marmalade and ripe peaches that develop a marvellous play between sweet and sour and turn into a very long and complex finish. This wonderful refreshing sugar and acid balance make this wine to be enjoyed on its own and with both sweet and savoury desserts. The wine is best served chilled at 9 to 11 °C
You can also find this article on City Savvy. City Savvy is a website that seeks to inform, entertain and simplify the lives of English speakers living in, moving to or visiting Luxembourg.
