Ernst “Ernie” Loosen was born into the great tradition of German winemaking. Since the Dr. Loosen estate on the Mosel River has been in his family for over 200 years, you’d think it only natural for him to take up the family legacy as a profession. The truth is, though, that as a youngster, Ernst was more fascinated by the area’s numerous Roman ruins than by the family vineyards. So off he went to college to study archaeology.

In the mid-’80s, however, his father decided to turn the estate over to the next generation, and Ernie’s siblings nominated him for the job. Happily, this turned out to be his true calling. After completing studies at Germany’s renowned winemaking school in Geisenheim, Ernie assumed control of the Dr. Loosen estate in 1988, and proceeded to elevate the quality of the wines to a world-class level. The Dr. Loosen estate is now a member of the prestigious VDP, Germany’s association of top-rated wine estates, and has been named one of the 10 best estates in Germany by nearly every wine publication in the world. Ernst was named Germany’s Winemaker of the Year in the 2001 edition of Gault Millau’s Weinguide Deutschland, and Decanter magazine’s Man of the Year in 2005.

In 1996, Ernie took over a second winery — J.L. Wolf, in the Pfalz — and launched a dramatic turnaround in that estate’s quality and reputation, as well. Located in a warmer and drier part of Germany, these vineyards gave Ernie the opportunity to make Pinot Noir for the first time. A lifelong Pinot Noir fanatic, he began producing Pinot at J.L. Wolf in 1996, the same year that Jay Somers started J. Christopher.

Ernie’s partnership with J. Christopher grew out of his friendship with Jay and their mutual interest in great Pinot Noir. “I’m very excited to be collaborating with Jay, because his wines are the most Burgundian and Old World in style that I’ve seen from the United States,” says Ernie. “Jay doesn’t try to replicate Germany or Burgundy in the New World, but rather to bring an Old World sensibility to the creation of New World wine — a sensibility that favors great structure and expression of terroir.”

Ernie’s joint venture with J. Christopher is his second in the United States. He also makes “Eroica” Riesling collaboratively with Chateau Ste. Michelle in Washington.