Like father, like son

Weingut Peter Lauer - Logo

175 years winemaking tradition in the 5th generation

Since 1830, viticulture has been carried out in the Könen/Lauer house in Ayl on the Saar. Winegrower Matthias Lauer married the daughter of Matthias Könen in 1904 and took over the winegrowing business in 1913. Lauer added his vineyard holdings to it.

Peter Lauer (I) was born in 1906. After completing his apprenticeship in growing and grafting vines, he took over the family winery in 1938 and led it through the troubled times of the Nazi era and beyond. Peter Lauer (II) was born in 1949.

In 1956, Weingut Peter Lauer experienced a decisive expansion: through the purchase of the renowned Weingut Notar Tappen-Mungenast in Saarburg, Lauer added well-placed parcels in “Neuenberg” and “Untersten Berg” within Ayler Kupp, as well as a choice parcel in “Feils.”

In 1973, Peter Lauer (II) took over the estate with vineyards in the best sites on the Saar in the greater Mosel region. Since 2006, father Peter and son Florian have been working together in the vineyard and cellar, relying on handpicked, vegan, and sustainable still wines, sparkling wines, and crémants made exclusively from Riesling.

Download PDF: [Die Geschichte des Ayler Weines]

Lauer Geschichte Matthias Koenen 1830
Lauer Geschichte Matthias Lauer 1880
Lauer Geschichte Peter Lauer 1 1910
Lauer Geschichte Peter Lauer 2 1950
Florian Lauer - Winzer vom Weingut Peter Lauer

Our story in pictures

Napoleon’s ordinance map (1812)

Napoleon’s ordinance map (1812)

An ordinance map of Saarburg and the surrounding area by the engineer-geographer Filhon. Between 1803 and 1813, Tranchot and his team of engineer-geographers began to map the region as instructed by Napoleon. The capital letter "V" stands for vigne (vines). These are the first viticultural maps of this kind in Europe.

1803
1898
Great-great-grandfather’s wine bar

Great-great-grandfather’s wine bar

Matthias Könen leaning out of the window and sporting a long beard.

Great-great-grandfather Johannes Schons

Great-great-grandfather Johannes Schons

Manager at the top wine estate in Ayl: Schloss Ayler Herrenberg. The owner at the time was Dr. Damian Görtz.

1910
1939
Wedding Peter Lauer I

Wedding Peter Lauer I

Grandfather Peter Lauer I marries Elisabeth Schons, the daughter of Johannes Schons, the estate manager of Schloss Ayler Herrenberg.

The knowledge of top wine production in Ayl stays in the family.
A view of Ayler Kupp from the garden

A view of Ayler Kupp from the garden

Ayler Kupp in the background before the land consolidation, or Flurbereinigung. The rows from the bottom (Unterstenberg) to the top of the hill (Stirn) run about 200 meters high. 

1949
1953
Peter Lauer I

Peter Lauer I

Talking to a vineyard worker.

A view of Ayler Kupp from the garden

A view of Ayler Kupp from the garden

A view of the prime sector of the main Ayl slope, which had been partially restructured during the Flurbereinigung. “Unterstenberg” is already separated by a path running above it.

1954
1954
The Lauer/Schons couple

The Lauer/Schons couple

The hosts after their work is done.

Bottling

Bottling

In the mid-1950s, bottling the wines was still entirely manual work.

1955
1956
Cask by cask

Cask by cask

The traditional 1,000-liter oak casks (called Fuder) have always been bottled individually. The patron himself checks the quality.

 

Wine tasting

Wine tasting

The grandparents Peter I and Elisabeth during the professional assessment of their award-winning wines.

1958
1960
Cellar tasting

Cellar tasting

Two generations standing in front of a cask: Peter Lauer I und Peter Lauer II working in the cellar. 

Peter Lauer II

Peter Lauer II

1969
1973
Plowing

Plowing

In order to bring air into the soil, the vineyards are plowed by cable winch. The airy, loose soil gives the vines access to nutrients. Peter Lauer II on the seat of the plow.

 

Peter Lauer I and II

Peter Lauer I and II

Once again, two generations in the cellar: father Peter Lauer I as critical inspector of his son’s craft.  

1973
1975
The seventies

The seventies

The sales pitch...

The sales pitch...

...the favorite pastime of the senior boss (Peter Lauer II).

1978
1980
Loading wine

Loading wine

Until the 2000s, the main sales market for Lauer wines was in Germany. Mainly dry and off-dry wines flattered the locals. Fruity-sweet Rieslings were largely exported in the 1980s.