Austrian Wine

Winemaker Description 

Crisp, refreshing, and peppery with citrus, green apple and cool stone fruit. A balanced, fine wine that is fun and easy drinking.

The perfect food wine; drink with light meats, oysters, fried chicken, spicy cuisines, sushi, tofu, veggies, snacks and more!

Winemaker Description 

The Etz estate consists of 30 hectares of vineyards in the Kamptal region of Austria, and are known for producing exceptional Grüner Veltliner. Franz Etz, the proprietor of the estate, gained international recognition when he bested 600 other Grüner Veltliners in a blind tasting competition by 14 of the world's top sommeliers. After, he created a special one-liter bottling of his fruit, called Grüner, for the U.S. market.

Expert Review - Vintage 2020

James Suckling 93 Points |  Perfumed aromas of dried roses, red berry fruit and licorice pull you in. Darker mocha notes, too. Medium-bodied yet deep, with dark minerals and spices accompanying the fresh berry fruit. Fine and tight tannins. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drink or hold.

The Wine Enthusiast by Aleks Zecevic writes 91 Points | A layer of chalk and cocoa coats the blueberry, cassis and violet flavors in this lovely, medium-bodied red. It is silky and complex, with great purity and a long loam-tinged finish. 

Winemaker Notes

The Blaufränkisch grapes come from vineyards characterised by limestone and slate in and around Jois am Leithagebirge. The grapes were harvested from mid to late September. After manual harvesting and sorting, the Blaufränkisch was fermented spontaneously in wooden fermentation racks and, after slow pressing in a basket press, aged in used Tonneaux.

On the palate, the wine appears juicy with lots of fresh cherry and pomegranate juice, with plums and lightly roasted herbs. At the same time, this is a Blaufränkisch with a mineral fresh and cool side, a lively acidity and a remarkable inner tension. Here, too, you find the slightly earthy and tart with a fine tannin. This is intense, transparent, clear and fresh wine that quickly builds up drinkability. 

Winemaker Description

In the nose a fine spice, fresh apple fruit, and typical of the variety. On the palate, it continues fine, with citrus and herbs. Finely woven, distinguished and medium-weight, a drinkable Grüner Veltliner.

From the most beautiful locations in the Kremstal. Fragrance reminiscent of gooseberries and cassis leaves, also herbs; juicy, fresh fruit, pinch of herbs, straightforward, uncomplicated drinking fun.

The merest touch of flinty reduction dissipates as you take the first sniff. Underneath that there is a hint of freshness, but it is only on the palate that the intensity of the yeasty concentration becomes apparent. A juicy tone of Mirabelle also arises, making for a wonderful and compelling combination.

Pairing Memo Summary

Food Pairings

• The Classics: A perfect match for Wiener Schnitzel, roasted pork, or cold cuts.

• Modern: Its high acidity and spice handle Asian cuisine (especially Thai or Vietnamese) and spicy sushi exceptionally well.

• Vegetarian: Excellent with asparagus, mushroom risotto, or goat cheese salads.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2024

James Suckling 91 Points | Peaches, lemons, celery and pineapple on the nose of this juicy white. It’s medium-bodied with excellent freshness and a deliciously peachy finish. Vegan. Drink now. Screw cap.

Winemaker Description 

Martin Nigl's Freheit Gruner Veltliner is sourced from four different vineyards in the hills above the city of Krems. The soils here are primarily löss and the temperature is moderated by its steep elevation. The name ‘Freiheit’ means “freedom” and is believed to be some of the first privately owned vineyard land in the valley not controlled by the Church or a feudal estate. Fermentation and élevage occur in stainless steel and is bottled at night when the cellars of the coolest has Martin feels this helps preserve the freshness of the wines.

Memo Summary Notes

The 2024 Nigl Grüner Veltliner "Freiheit" is a classic expression of Austrian white wine from the Kremstal region. Known for its precision and freshness, the "Freiheit" (meaning freedom) refers to the historical status of the vineyards, independent of church or feudal control.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2024

James Suckling 92 Points | Citrus, white pears and hints of snow peas on the nose of this juicy and crisp white. It’s medium-bodied, bright and cool, with a light peppery twist at the end. From organically grown grapes.

Winemaker Description 

This Grüner Veltliner is a blend of wines sourced from different terraced vineyards. The elevated terraces consist of stonier soils (schisted granite). The vines there show aromatic expression, good acidity, elegant stone fruit and lots of minerals. The lower sited terraces mostly of layered fertile loess show more body and ripeness. By combining those two characteristics you get a really classic Grüner Veltliner with both finesse and a certain vigor. 

Winemaker Description 

The Sauvignon Blanc Südsteiermark DAC is a great classic from Sattlerhof and comes from organically farmed vines on quartz and lime-strewn soils with a gravel layer that give it cool elegance.

Herbal and pear aromas and a pleasant acidity make it an exciting accompaniment to asparagus and other delicate spring dishes.

Winemaker Description 

Aromatics of crunchy apple, green pear, tarragon, and catnip. On the palate, the bracing acidity, lime zest, and juice give way to white pepper, tarragon, scallion, with a chalky mineral saline finish that lingers.

Pair with Asian fare, sashimi, sushi, spiced Thai dishes, grilled shrimp, crustaceans, and oysters on the half shell, as well as a myriad of white meats, egg dishes, and light cheeses.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

Stuart Pigott writes 91 Points | Some will consider this unfiltered, light-bodied gruner veltliner a natural, but whichever way you see it this has stacks of crisp apple fruit and white pepper character. I love the interplay of lemony freshness with a touch of leesy creaminess at the joyfully bright finish. Just 11.5% alcohol. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Anne Krebiehl MW of Vinhous writes 90 Points | The 2022 Grüner Veltliner Zwickl Unfiltriert is named after the_ Zwickl_ concept of cloudy, unfiltered beer. Winemaker Nikolaus Saahs Jr. emphasizes that the term refers only to not filtering the wine and is a style that has been made since 2014. Vinified in stainless steel, the grapes are grown in Mautern and Stein, i.e. on both banks of the Danube. Intense leesy freshness and yeastiness rise from the glass. The palate is mild, smooth and rounded, with a white pepper notion and an almost perfumed, floral quality to the yeastiness on the mid-palate. There is lovely freshness on the finish. (Bone-dry)  Drinking 2023-2030.

Winemaker Description & Memo Notes

The Umathum Zweigelt Rotburger Classic 2022 is a standout example of Austria’s most-planted red grape. Produced by Josef "Pepi" Umathum, a pioneer in biodynamic viticulture in the Burgenland region, this wine is celebrated for being "crushable" yet sophisticated.

The name "Rotburger" is used here as a nod to the grape's historical name (Zweigelt is a cross of Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent).

Tasting Notes

•    Appearance: Deep ruby red with a youthful purple rim.   

•    Nose: A "cherry bomb" on the nose—expect intense aromas of sour cherry, blackberry, and raspberry, accented by a distinct black pepper spice and a touch of damp earth or flint. 

•    Palate: Fresh and juicy with medium body. It features vibrant acidity and soft, silky tannins. The palate mirrors the nose with tart red fruit and a savory, spicy finish.

•     Structure: Fermented with natural yeasts and aged for one year in large, neutral Austrian oak barrels (foudres) to preserve the purity of the fruit rather than adding heavy oak flavors. 
        
Pepi Umathum is one of Austria's best known producers. In the Burgenland growing district called Neusiedlersee (Lake Neusiedl), he counts as one of the great champions of the traditional Austrian grape varieties. His main holdings are Rotburger (Zweigelt), St Laurent and Blaufrankisch with a bit of Welschriesling, Roter Traminer, the extremely rare Gelber Traminer, and the unusual ancient Lindenblattriger (Harslevelu in Hungary).

Pepi has embraced the intricacies and harmonies of biodynamic viticulture, and for most of his wines, which are all hand-harvested, he prefers to use large barrels of native Austrian oak, which underscores the clear fruit aromatics of the wines. Some of the high-toned single vineyard bottlings are matured in smaller oak barrels and barriques, and are first released three years after the vintage. 

Memo Summary Notes

Notably, Umathum uses the name "Rotburger" (the original name for Zweigelt) to move away from the controversial historical associations of the grape's namesake, Dr. Zweigelt.

Expert Notes

Stephan Reinhardt writes:  The 2021 Sand & Kalk is a pure Weissburgunder (a.k.a. Pinot Blanc) that was vinified in 600-liter oak barrels (5% new) for almost a year. Bottled in September this year and released in November, the wine offers a clear and aromatic, very elegant and balanced bouquet of ripe, white and yellow seed fruits. Medium-bodied yet dense and intensely fruity, with fine phenolic grip and delicate citrus bitters, this is a textural and very elegant Pinot Blanc with a refreshing and stimulating bitter finish with lingering lemon aromas. This is another excellent white that should be paired with raw fish, freshwater fish, seafood, white meat or cheese. This is a lovely, uncomplicated but structured terroir wine for the Buchertberg in Vulkanland Steiermark. Marketed as Landwein, though. 12.5% stated alcohol. Screw-cap closure.  Drinking 2023 to 2030.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 91

Winemaker Description 

Seductively fresh Pinot Blanc with orange zest, honeysuckle flowers, and lemongrass and a luscious texture from the bit of skin contact that we greet us like a big soft hug. He manages to coax an intense amount of flavor out a relatively neutral grape, and we think it could go with anything from a bitter green salad with winter citrus to roasted chicken, pork tenderloin or seared scallops. This could easily be our everyday white! 

Because it has a nice, round body and prominent fruit, it also works as a Chardonnay alternative for those seeking a white with a bit more meat on the bones.

The HERRENHOF was a former wine estate of the Vorau Abbey. I started this project in 2006 from scratch, without vines. It required me 15 years to rebuild the winery. Since I have always been very close to nature, it is clear to me that I grow and vinify my wines exclusively organically. I want to bring the taste of the land where I grew up into the bottle of wine. Gottfried Lamprecht. 

The wine project at the HERRENHOF is pretty young. I've started to recutivate vineyards on this perfect slope in the year 2006 completely from the scratch. My mission: I want to present the Buchertberg, the place where I grew up in a bottle of wine. Because wine just can do that! Everything is harvested by hand of course. What makes me a special wine grower? I ferment 100% in barrels. 50% of my barrels are made of wood from my own forest. This brings my wines much closer to my terroir - closer to the Buchertberg, the place where I grew up. After fermentation the wines stay on their lees till bottling. Prior bottling I just about 20mg of Sulphur or less, or nothing and anything else. It depends on the wine.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 91 Points | Brimming with red-cherry fruit and joyful freshness. Wonderful interplay of extremely fresh fruit, fine tannins and lively acidity on the barely medium-bodied palate. Excellent balance at the delicate and animating, long finish. Amazing for just 11% alcohol! From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

Winemaker Description

In the hands of Hannes Schuster, Sankt Laurent becomes a focused expression of the soils in and around St Margarethen. Sankt Laurent is thought to be related to Pinot Noir, a crossing of the noble grape and another variety of unknown origin, native to Burgenland. The Schuster always shows earthy yet fresh mineral-rich notes of cherry and red berries which explode on the palate.

Silky tannins, delicate spice and a lovely long finish are signature characteristics. As all the Schuster wines, it is organically farmed with meticulous work in the ideally situated vineyards. This Sankt Laurent was fermented with native yeasts and spent one year in used 500 Liter Stockinger barrels. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 92 Points | Delicate peachy fruit and racy acidity are beautifully balanced on the sleek, medium-bodied palate. Excellent mountain freshness and wet-stone minerality at the super-clean and straight finish. Sustainable. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Producer Description 

There are two types of red grapes in the world that are always trimmed for finesse and elegance. The much better known is the Pinot Noir from France and then also with its relative, the German Pinot Noir.

Then in the outer tip of Austria - in Styria - there are more and more winemakers who feel a total devotion to their local red wine specialty - Blaufränkisch - and can derive just as much elegance from it as the much more prominent Pinot Noir. Now Gottfried Lamprecht is very fortunate to have the Buchertberg, a vineyard that can show dramatic differences in the soil. And anyone who has ever been to Burgundy in France and has seen the prices of wines that come from particularly fortunate soils - for the winemakers and their wallets - will appreciate Gottfried Lamprecht's wines.

For the connoisseurs it should be briefly mentioned that on the Buchertberg opok soils, partly sandstone weathering, sand and silt change in a very small space and make up the rare great class of this wine.

Expert Reviews - 2022

James Sucklling 92 Points | Absurdly concentrated for an entry-level wine. Deep blueberry and black-cherry fruit fills out the compact and structured medium-bodied palate. Generous fine tannins and notes of licorice and baking-spice aromas. Long, powdery and fresh finish. This is a unique solera-type blend of several vintages from 2022 to 2012. Blaufrankisch plus pinot noir, merlot and zweigelt. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

Winemaker Description

The house brand red is a blend of Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt and Pinot Noir, which is matured in large used wooden barrels. The Zweigelt brings fruit and charm, the Pinot Noir juiciness and the Blaufränkisch character and structure.

The Blaufränkisch also dominates the nose with dark aromas, ripe black cherries and plums, some eucalyptus and a slight smokiness of bacon. On the palate it starts fresh and animating, a fine and mellow tannin spreads directly on the tongue, again cherry and fine tannins.

The house brand stands for fresh drinking fun and goes well with stews and autumnal cuisine, for example with pumpkin.

Vinous 94 Points | The 2021 Darscho is a pure Chardonnay from vines that are around 25 years old. The bright energy of the wine hits you with the first sniff; there is lift, brightness and something immensely citric and pervasive that hits the pleasure center of the brain. This has an exquisite shape. It glides and moves with agility, with the dynamic of a drop of liquid rolling across plumage—always entire, rounded, shining, smooth and so mobile. The finish simply sinks into soil, draws you in, seasons the tongue with its saltiness and floors you with its incredible equanimity. The finish is endless, profound and ineffable. (Bone-dry). Darscho is named after a smaller lake in the village and comes from vineyards which are 35-50 years old.

Vinous 97 Points |  The 2021 Tiglat is a pure Chardonnay from the oldest vines of the estate, planted in 1959. Smoothness dominates the nose, which offers almost salty hints of lanolin, a touch of Mirabelle and a lovely note of straw. The palate is intense, concentrated and pervasive, with uncompromising nakedness, dynamicism and drive, dripping with lemon brightness, all bound up in earthiness reminiscent of fresh cep mushroom and profound, cooling limestone. Clarity is everything here. The finish is long, serene, touching and memorable. (Bone-dry). Tiglat, which comes from the original plantings from 1959, is the crown jewel of the line-up. The wine is fermented naturally and kept on the full lees for at least 24 months.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

The Wine Enthusiast 92 Points by Aleks Zecevic | Delicious and easy to enjoy, this light- to medium-bodied white is golden in color, showing obvious skin contact. It is lightly chalky in texture, offering a lovely mesh of dried mango, tarragon, orange peel and white strawberry flavors. Multilayered, with a well-cut, invigorating finish.

Winemaker Description

Visually, it has a bright straw-yellow color. On the nose, it is pronounced with decisive hints of fruit and flowers, with a clear mineral and aromatic herb character. On the palate it is dry, developing with great acidity and a beautiful mineral texture. Great tension and pleasantness. Elegant and harmonious.

Pairings Arndorfer's Grüner Veltliner pairs wonderfully with shellfish, seafood, oysters and fish carpaccio. Also excellent as an aperitif.

Winemaker Description 

As with the Grüner Veltliner Rossatz, Fischer’s village-level Riesling is a blend of fruit from his various crus which does not quite make his rigorous cut for the single-vineyard bottlings. Bristling with kinetic energy, the Rossatz offers a hugely expressive nose of tangy yellow fruits, with a laser-like, salt-drenched palate that prompts salivation. Its acidity is juicy rather than cutting, and its 1.5 grams per liter of residual sugar are rendered completely invisible.

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

On the nose, this wine is fruit forward with a touch of apple, peach and apricot with a slight spice. Fresh and tangy, fine spices, white pepper and round body.

Winemaker Description 

Very bright yellow straw in color. Discreet aromas of hay and herbs, grapefruit, melon and orange zests on the nose. Delicate in the mouth, crisp acidity, light peppery notes, long finish. Perfect for the warmer weather or for holiday dinners!

Memo Summary Notes

The 2022 Nastl Grüner Veltliner Klassik is a quintessential expression of Austria's most famous white grape. Produced by the Nastl family in the Kamptal region—one of the world’s premier spots for Grüner—this "Klassik" bottling is designed to be fresh, vibrant, and approachable.

While many Austrian wines can be complex and austere, the Klassik style focuses on pure fruit and the grape's natural "peppery" charm.

Producer Description 

This easy sipping white blend shows off each of its grapes. Full of green apple notes, a touch of stone fruit, a beautiful floral touch, and a hint of peppery finish, this wine is a delight. All stainless steel fermented for a bright, crisp Austrian gem. 

Winemaker Description 

An exciting wine! Organically farmed, raised in amphora, 100% Blaufrankisch. Straka is a small family winery embracing a philosophy of pure and natural winemaking at their 84 year old family estate located in the Eisenberg district of Burgenland. 

The Eisenberg is a unique geological area where the foothills of the Alps meet the Pannonian lowlands and is comprised of metamorphic, magmatic rock and cristal schist. One of only 3 places in the world with this soil composition. The deep rooted vines naturally show a distinct mineral character and a compelling purity of fruit. 

Winemaker Description 

It is not known for certain how long Gelber Muskateller has been in the Rust vineyards. We do know that this grape variety used to be called Weirer. This name comes from Weihrauch (frankincense) because the nutmeg scent is so prevalent. Winemaker Description. 

Green apple, papaya, pineapple, white flowers, peppermint and flint dominate this rich, extracted and exotic delight from Heidi Schröck.

Winemaker Description

Roter Multschak from Meinklang is an exciting red wine. Made from two Austrian indigenous grape varieties, it surprises you with its fun character. On the palate is fruity, tiny bit fizzy with cherry and pomegranate flavours.

The low amount of tannins allows you to drink it chilled.

Winemaker Description 

This wine’s tart, spiky glints of passion fruit tease the nose amidst all its lemony freshness. With a little air, the passion fruit note grows smoother and fuller. The palate glows in this fruitiness and complements it with creamy richness. It’s lovely and seductive now but sure to get even better.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

The Wine Enthusiast by Aleks Zecevic writes 88 Points | This features oak spice notes, but with nice vibrancy and ripeness of Damson plum and mulberry. Some ripe stem notes emerge and mark the moderately long finish. 

Winemaker Description 

The classic Blaufränkisch from Zantho shows a fine fruit reminiscent of blackberries with a hint of cinnamon. Juicy berries on the palate are supported by a very harmonious acid and tannin structure. 

Expert Review

91 Points Wine Enthusiast | Fruit of the forest compote notes shine with subtle vanilla on the inviting nose. The palate adds cinnamon spice to these notions and comes in with both concentration and slenderness. Bright freshness gives focus and makes for a mouthwatering finish. An elegant but still fruit-driven Zweigelt.

Winemaker Description 

An innovative and exciting orange wine produced by Kolfok, a winery dedicated to pushing the boundaries of winemaking. This unique orange wine showcases the distinctive character of the grapes and the winery's commitment to experimentation and creativity.

A blend of Gruner Veltliner, Welschriesling, and Chardonnay. A pale, aromatic skin contact wine. Bone dry, smooth and mineral, with notes of apple, grapefruit, yeast, melon, and white flowers.

Stefan Wellanschitz, the winemaker at Kolfolk, likes the physical qualities of skin-fermented wines, or "orange" wines on the palate, but he wanted a way to make one that was also elegant, not just tannic and out-there. Enter intracellular fermentation: intact, uncrushed grapes rested in a large fermentation vessel where native yeasts slowly started the fermentation process inside of the berries, leading to a gentler extraction from the skins.

After some weeks, the grapes were pressed off to finish fermentation in 1100 and 1500L (i.e. really big) used oak barrels. A unique winemaking approach that results in a tropical-but-elegant white wine, full of structure, pale in color, with notes like a fistful of flowers. 

Winemaker Description

Glazter’s vineyards are predominately South-facing and are all around the village of Göttlesbrunn, where the Pannonian microclimate and loess-rich soils were already used to cultivate wine in Roman times. Here you will find a combination of sandy loam, gravel with clay and sand. 

Winemaker Description 

Johann Stadlmann is chairman of the regional wine committee and was named "Falstaff Winemaker of the Year" in 1994.

In the nose, the aromas of this special grape variety immediately attract attention: ripe pear (including skin!), peach and apple supplemented with cinnamon and matcha. Already at the first sip, the beautiful balance between the pleasant acidity and the rounder mouthfeel is striking, with the additional aroma of bitter orange. A surprising glass of wine that lingers for a long time, in aftertaste and memory! Wine-food: seared lobster with bisque-based gravy.

Winemaker Description 

Straka's Mash skin-fermented white is a blend of Straka's specialty, Welschriesling, with a bit of Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay. It spends 20 days on the skins followed by 10 months in large, neutral oak. The result is a wine that is both aromatic and tertiary, lending intriguing savory notes making it a perfect accompaniment to food.

Straka, which means Magpie, is a small family estate located in the Eisenberg district of Burgenland, Austria. It has been run by Tom Straka since 2008. Tom farms organically and practices minimal intervention in the cellar. Located on the last foothill of the Alps, in Rechnitz, his primary focus is Welschriesling, the main indigenous grape of the area. His best vineyard site is Pratner (he farms all but 4 rows of it) which is very densely planted old vines dating from 1932.

Since taking over the family winery, Tom has slowly expanded their vineyard holdings from 3-7 hectares and converted to organic farming. The estate was established by his family in the 18th century when they moved to the area from Bohemia. In the 1950s they were the first family in the area to start a Heuriger or Buschenschank (wine tavern) so that people could come and eat while sampling their wines. It proved a very successful model for them and today, their Buschenschank remains a staple of the area while most others have closed. It remains a great way for many people to try their wines.

Tom is huge advocate of Welschriesling which he says can pair with anything if grown properly. Welschriesling is an old indigenous grape perfectly suited to the geography of this rare geological area. Rechnitz sits 360 m above sea level on the slopes of the Geschriebenstein, the highest mountain in the Burgenland. The vineyards climb as high as 500m and are known for their unique geological soils -- a combination of crystalline schist and magmatic deposits that can only be found in 3 other places in the world. It is a very windy and dry area which cools off considerably at night. This results in very few pests, no need for herbicide or any other treatments and crisp clear mineral-driven wines. The parentage of Welschriesling is not known (it is not related to Rhine Riesling) and is thought to be a most closely related to Elbling, originating in Northern Italy and Croatia along the Danube and typically shows good acidity and fruit with notes of lemon, salt and green apple.

For one and a half decades Thomas Straka has been working with organic waste and cattle manure, but very little compost. "I apply some phosphor from time to time as fertilizer, and also a little chalk, because without it the vines would suffer malnutrition. But all in all I don't have to interfere much in the vineyards." Green cover like vetch between the rows contribute nitrogen to the soil. He lets them grow rather high. "Because we do little work with tractors and most by hand, our soils are nearly uncompressed and rich in humus. And as our soils are meagre and constantly wind-blown, we have almost no problems with fungal diseases." The biggest threat in Rechnitz is and always has been drought. "Today the only things I do in the cellar are a clarification with bentonite and addition of neutral yeasts if necessary."

Vinous 92 Points The 2021 To is a blend of Chardonnay, Welschriesling and Sauvignon Blanc from the younger vines of the estate, which are around 15 years old. Gentle nuttiness and a touch of tatami mat appear on the nose, which is very subtle and calm. With more air, a hint of butter emerges. The palate is all clarity, all lightness and all brightness on a super-slender frame that is soothing and smooth. (Bone-dry). Tó takes its name from the Hungarian word for “lake” and is a collection of younger vines, 15-25 years old.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Vinous 94 Points | The 2022 Riesling Terrassen Smaragd is from 20- to 60-year-old vines planted on higher parcels at 250-350 meters. The nose has something of an eau de Cologne sense, with its conifer and citrus spice. The palate is super slender, very linear and uncompromisingly fresh, without a suspicion of fat or any opulence. This treads a thin line on perfect tiptoe. There is a weightless quality here. This is brimming with lemon and utterly fresh.

The Wine Spectator 93 Points | With fullness to the lychee, green plum and quince flavors, this delicious, mouthcoating and salty white is laced with baking spice notes. Stays elegant and well-defined despite its plump profile, offering zesty clementine acidity, with dried sage and fresh-cut grass notes bringing a savory dimension. Drink now through 2032.

Winemaker Description 

Wachau Riesling is dry and often defined by high levels of dry extract (due to a lengthy ripening period) and a pleasing freshness (due to dramatic temperature swings between day and night). Soils of primary rock from various terraced sites give this dry Riesling subtle minerality accompanied by aromas and flavors of citrus and stone fruit.

Riesling’s high acidity makes it one of the most versatile wines at the table. Riesling can be used to cut the fattiness of foods such as pork or sausages and can tame a certain amount of saltiness. Conversely, it can highlight foods such as fish or vegetables in the same way a squeeze of lemon or a vinaigrette can.

Rudi Pichler is among the elite growers of the Wachau producing wines of precision, power, and longevity. Grüner Veltliner and Riesling make up 95% of the production with the remaining 5% shared between Weißburgunder and Roter Veltliner. Rudi Pichler belongs to the prestigious Vinea Wachau and vinifies under the strict parameters of their codex.

Yields are kept low between 30 and 35 hectoliters per hectare with botrytis carefully removed by hand.  Grapes are crushed by foot and receive between three and 36 hours of maceration on the skins. Vinification is entirely in stainless-steel tanks and malolactic fermentation is avoided.

Weingut Rudi Pichler consists of 37 acres spread between Wösendorf, Joching, and Weißenkirchen where south-facing terraces look down at the Danube River. Terrassen indicates it is a cuvée from multiple terraced sites. Smaragd is a term used by Vinea Wachau members indicating a dry wine with a minimum alcohol of 12.5%.

Winemaker Description

Elegant, approachable, and focused on drinkability and fruit, with depth and balance. It's often described as a great representation of classic Blaufränkisch, showcasing its lighter, more mineral side.

Dark berries, wild cherry, violets, cracked pepper, a subtle herbal/spice background, and an earthy edge. Soft, juicy, and lively with bright acidity. Flavors often include dark berries, plum, graphite, and spice. Some notes mention a salty, peppery, and iron-rich minerality.

Medium-bodied with fine, well-dispersed, or "dusty" tannins that play a supporting role. It has a bright, engaging, and long finish.

Sourced from vineyards in and around Oggau in Burgenland, Austria, with soils comprised of limestone, mica-schist, and slate.

The winery practices organic farming.

Fermented in stainless steel with native yeast, often racked into used Stockinger (large wooden) barrels for aging. The focus is on achieving ripeness while maintaining freshness and lower alcohol.

Winemaker Description 

This Pet Nat from Straka is 100% Welschriesling fermented naturally in the ancestral method. The second fermentation occurs naturally inside the bottle creating trapped CO2. Bubbles!

At a low 12% alcohol this mineral yet fruit driven expression of the main white grape of Burgenland is eminently thirst quenching. As with all the Straka wines, the farming is organic, the intervention in the cellar minimal with no additions.

The 84 year old family estate is located in the Eisenberg district of Burgenland. The Eisenberg is a unique geological area where the foothills of the Alps meet the Pannonian lowlands and is comprised of metamorphic, magmatic rock and cristal schist.

One of only 3 places in the world with this soil composition. The deep rooted vines naturally show a distinct mineral character and a compelling purity of fruit.

Combined with the attention to farming and careful hand harvesting the Straka wines are a true find.