HISTORY
Hermann J. Wiemer is regarded as one of the pioneers of viticulture and winemaking in the Finger Lakes
Hermann J. Wiemer was born in Bernkastel, Germany into an influential family in the German wine business. Hermann's mother came from a family with over 300 years of winemaking history along the Mosel. Hermann's father was the head of the Agricultural Experiment Station in Bernkastel and was responsible for restoring vines in the Mosel region after WWII. As a result, he recognized the importance of grafting vinifera on American rootstock. Ultimately, this conviction led him to convince Dr. Thanisch - who maintained the most famous Riesling vineyard in the world - to graft Mosel Rieslings onto American rootstock.
Hermann spent summers as a youth learning to graft by hand and later attended Germany's premier winemaking and viticultural institutions. However, it wasn’t until his experience in the Pfalz at the Viticultural Research institute in Neustadt (Forschungsinstitut fur Reblausbekampfung und Wiederaufbau der LLFA Neustadt) where Hermann was finally able to put his life experiences and education to practice. This practical training and research institute, headed by the influential Dr. Helmut Becker, only accepted three admissions per year… and Hermann was one of them.
From the Mosel Valley to the lush shores of New York’s Seneca Lake, Hermann discovered the cool climate and gravelly soils of the Finger Lakes, which reminded him of his family’s vineyards in the Mosel Valley. After several years of observing and experiencing vintages in New York, Hermann carefully selected the HJW site to grow his classic European varieties. His vines, hand grafted to American rootstock, thrived. Given his background, it was inevitable that Hermann would choose Riesling.
Award Winning Wines... Hermann’s first Riesling and Chardonnay vintages in 1979 won gold in New York competitions. Over the last thirty years, Hermann’s consistency and quality has translated into one the nation’s best white wine producers and leader in Riesling.
As one of America’s oldest grape growing regions, Hermann has helped reposition the Finger Lakes as one of the premier Riesling terroirs in the world. His passion for the vineyard, nursery, and winemaking has ensured a remarkable level of quality, which is reflected in accolades, both locally and internationally.
Today the winemaking is managed by Hermann’s long- term winemaker Fred Merwarth who has worked closely with Hermann for the last 8 years. Hermann is still passionately and practically involved in the life of the winery, and Fred continues faithfully executing the Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard legacy and heritage. It is for this reason their collaboration in the last decade has won Hermann J. Wiemer accolades “Winery of the year” endless awards and several “Best Wine in New York.”
I think you'll agree… the tradition lives on”
![Hermann J. WIemer [signature]](../images/history/hermannJWiemerSignature.gif)
