Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Achleiten

The Achleiten is one of the great sites of the Wachau — steep, terraced, on primary rock. Anyone who produces a Smaragd here means business.

The Domäne Wachau is the most significant winegrowers' cooperative in the Wachau World Heritage site: around 450 winegrower families jointly cultivate nearly 800 hectares of steep slopes between Melk and Krems. The Achleiten slope above Weißenkirchen lies on weathered gneiss and amphibolite — rock that gives the Grüner Veltliner its characteristic spice and depth. Smaragd, the highest ripeness level of the Wachau, stands for fully ripe grapes and wines with real aging potential.

In the glass, the wine shows a powerful yellow-gold color. On the nose, white pepper — the trademark of Grüner Veltliner — combined with tobacco leaf, ripe quince, and a mineral-smoky undertone. On the palate, dense and concentrated, with a taut acid structure that carries the body without stinging. The finish is long, spicy, and salty-mineral.

• Food pairing: Wiener Schnitzel, grilled zander, boiled veal (Tafelspitz), or mature mountain cheese
• Serving temperature: 12–14 °C