The winery is located in the municipality of Schoden (Saar area) in the
Moselle wine-growing region of Germany. It was founded by Claudia and Manfred Loch in 1992. This is described on their own website in the following way:
Two inexperienced lateral entrants, 1200 m² of vineyard, a few old wooden barrels. Plus a rusty tractor, the wooden basket wine press from pre-war times and an extra portion of idealism with the goal of producing top wines. Claudia Loch looks after the vineyards, her husband is responsible for the winemaking. The vineyards cover four hectares of vineyards in the
Bockstein (Ockfen) and
Herrenberg (Schoden) sites, as well as
Schlangengraben (Wiltingen) with ancient ungrafted vines planted in 1893. They are 100% planted with Riesling. The vineyards are cultivated according to certified
organic viticulture. This includes a complete renunciation of synthetic fertilisers,
herbicides and
insecticides
Since 2014, Ouessant rams and Boer goats have been living in the vineyards, grazing the natural
cover crop between the vines and converting this into valuable organic fertiliser. The yield has been extremely reduced to an average of 33 hl/ha. The strictly selective grape harvest is carried out in several passes. Since the 2002 vintage, the 100% varietal Rieslings have been marketed under "Lochriesling". The quality pyramid comprises the lines Basis, Lagenweine (parcels Cruv, Stier, Stoveler, Heerenbersch), Selektion (Quasaar) Pretiosen (Alte Reben, Ockfener Bockstein). Fermentation is initiated
spontaneously with the vineyard's own natural yeasts and takes place chilled in stainless steel. Bottle-fermented sparkling wine is also produced, which is aged on its lees for 28 months. The winery is a member of the European Academy for Terroir and Wine Culture
