Riesling Smaragd from the terraces PW Wachau

Riesling from the Wachau is a category of its own — and Rudi Pichler's Smaragd from the terraces shows why. Smaragd is the highest quality level of the Vinea Wachau: fully ripe grapes, dry vinification, mineral depth.

The Rudi Pichler winery is one of the most renowned addresses in the Wachau. The grapes come from terraced vineyards on primary rock — gneiss and mica schist, which give the soil a lean structure and force the vines to root deeply. The different altitudes of the terraces bring temperature differences between day and night, which carry freshness and tension into the wine.

In the glass, a Riesling appears with aromas of ripe grapefruit, white peach, and a distinct hint of flint. The acidity is precise and integrated, the body substantial without heaviness, the finish long and characterized by a fine saline minerality — typical for primary rock sites of the Wachau.

Best served at 10–12 °C. Pairs with grilled zander, Wiener Backhendl (Viennese fried chicken), or an aged mountain cheese. Also as a standalone companion for a good evening at the table.