The flagship grape of Austria, Grüner Veltliner is a natural cross of Traminer and St. Georgen. Grüner accounts for almost 30% of all grapes planted with around 13,500 hectares under vine in the country. The Austrian native has become an international sensation amongst sommeliers worldwide as the perfect food wine due to its high acidity. In Austria it is prized for the easy drinking wine it produces but can also wow the palate with complexity in the right winemaker’s hands. The typical flavor profile is often described as displaying elements of green apple with an unmistakable white pepper spiciness.
The steep, stone terraced, Loibenberg, located in the town of Unterloiben, is Emmerich Knoll’s warmest vineyard. Grüner in the Loibenberg is typically grown nearer the base of the incline where the primary rock soil has a layer of löss , while Rieslings prefer the more rocky sections uphill. Knoll Grüner from this site perennially display rich, round, and aromatic wines, while still being characteristically dry. This wine falls under the Vinea Wachau’s strict classification system as Smaragd, the highest quality level, based on natural alcohol content.