Austria
Austria is among the many places into which Celtic tribes are thought to have introduced grape growing, but historical records begin with the Romans. From his 5th-century base in the Roman garrison town of Mautern, St Severin is believed to have planted the first Wachau vineyards.
Indeed the Wachau is one of the best-known wine-growing regions in one of Austria’s 3 main wine-producing areas, the Niederösterreich.
Among whites, Grüner Veltliner—with roughly a 30% share of plantings nationwide—has become known as Austria’s national grape. Riesling, though not as widely planted, does not take a back seat to Grüner Veltliner. Quality of Rieslings is high, and the styles are slightly leaner than those of Alsace, and richer than German versions.
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Weingut Alzinger
Alzinger is a relative newcomer to the pantheon of top Wachau growers. The family were coopers until they began farming the steep Durnstein slopes in the 1930s, selling their grapes to the local co-operative.It wasn’t until 1983 that Leo Alzinger Sr. first bottled wine under his own label, but with old vines in some of the Wachau’s greatest “Grand Cru” rieden, he quickly established his domaine as the source for Rieslings and Grüner Veltliners of unparalleled subtlety and finesse.
The Alzingers’ traditionally minimalist approach captures the varietal and site character of each with stunning clarity and finesse. Harvesting for the top Smaragd wines is late for maximum expressiveness and complexity, and botrytised fruit is eliminated in the interest of making pure, dry wines.
Since 2000, Leo Sr. has been working with his son Leo II, not only in Loibenberg and Steinertal, but in their other top Durnstein rieden of Hollerin, Mühlpoint, Hoherin and Liebenberg, planted 55% to Grüner Veltliner and the balance to Riesling.