Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Achleiten

The Achleiten vineyard is one of the great sites of the Wachau – steep, terraced, on bedrock. Anyone who produces an emerald here means business.

Domäne Wachau is the most important winegrowers' cooperative in the Wachau World Heritage Site: around 450 winegrowing families jointly cultivate almost 800 hectares of steep slopes between Melk and Krems. The Achleiten slope above Weißenkirchen lies on weathered gneiss and amphibolite—rock that gives Grüner Veltliner its characteristic spiciness and depth. Smaragd, the highest quality designation in the Wachau, stands for fully ripe grapes and wines with genuine aging potential.

In the glass, the wine displays a rich golden-yellow color. The nose offers white pepper—the hallmark of Grüner Veltliner—combined with tobacco leaf, ripe quince, and a mineral, smoky undertone. On the palate, it is dense and concentrated, with a firm acidity that supports the body without being harsh. The finish is long, spicy, and salty-mineral.

• Food pairings: Wiener Schnitzel, grilled pike-perch, veal Tafelspitz or mature mountain cheese
• Serving temperature: 12–14 °C
• Drinking window: now until 2032