Rudi Pichler Grüner Veltliner Wösendorfer Hochrain Smaragd is a refreshing white wine with a perfect balance of acidity and sweetness. The vineyards are located in the famous Wachau region of Austria, and the grapes are grown on steep terraces with slate and gneiss soils. On the palate, the wine shows notes of green apple, peach, and citrus, with a subtle mineral finish. The wine has been aged for over 12 months in large oak barrels, which adds a depth of complexity to the flavor profile. This wine is perfect to enjoy on a sunny afternoon or paired with light salads, seafood, or roasted chicken. It is an excellent example of Austria's top-quality Grüner Veltliners.\n \n A very striking nose with flinty crushed stones, wild herbs, light white pepper and white peaches. The palate has a very smooth delivery of fresh-pear, pear-pastry and chalky flavors. Long and seamless. Very composed.\n Producer Information\n Rudi Pichler is among the elite growers of the Wachau producing wines of precision, power, and longevity. The cellar is based in the village of Wösendorf where generations of Pichlers have tended vines since 1731. Rudolph Pichler, III took over the winery in 1997 and has since expanded the vineyards and constructed a modern cellar in 2004. 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. He was awarded Falstaff’s Vintner of the Year in 2010. Weingut Rudi Pichler consists of 37 acres spread between Wösendorf, Joching, Weißenkirchen, and Mautern. Wösendorf and Joching lie in the heart of the Wachau Valley where south-facing terraces look down at the Danube River. Here, rieden such as Kirchweg, Hochrain, and Kollmütz are marked by occasional deposits of loess over base rock. Rudi produces crystal-clear expressions of Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, and Weißburgunder from these sites. Directly east of Joching is Weißenkirchen, home to the famous rieden of Steinriegl and Achleithen, two distinctive Riesling sites with calcareous and weathered gneiss, respectively. Rudi also maintains a small vineyard of Roter Veltliner across the river in Mautern. “I’m a wine caretaker not a winemaker,†is Rudi’s credo, placing the intensity of work in the vineyards at the foundation of his philosophy. Rudi wants vineyard and varietal expression to be as clear as possible so yields are kept low between 30 and 35 hectoliters per hectare with harvest and botrytis carefully removed by hand. Grapes are crushed by foot and receive between three and 36 hours of maceration on the skins depending on the vintage and style. “The skin has information about the specific place where it is from,†says Rudi. Vinification is entirely in stainless-steel tanks and malolactic fermentation is avoided. The resulting wines are pure, dense, and taut with energy.
