2021 Weingut Knoll Grüner Veltliner Kreutles Smaragd, Wachau, Austria

ABOUT THE WINE

The Kreutles site lies at the foot of the Loibenberg in the Wachau, with deeper soils and a warmer, more sheltered exposition. These conditions favor a broader, more fruit-driven style of Grüner Veltliner, yet in the cool and balanced 2021 vintage, Knoll captures an exceptional sense of tension and clarity.

Harvested at Smaragd ripeness—typically yielding fuller-bodied, structured wines—the 2021 Kreutles balances richness with freshness. Fermented and matured in stainless steel, it shows layers of stone fruit, citrus oil, crushed herbs, and a dusting of white pepper, all wrapped in a supple, elegant frame. Its mineral undercurrent speaks clearly of its Danube-side origins.

Pair with roasted poultry, Wiener schnitzel, chanterelle mushrooms, or creamy root vegetable dishes for a regional harmony.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER

Weingut Knoll, based in the village of Unterloiben in the Wachau, is one of Austria’s most esteemed estates. The Knoll family has cultivated vines in the region for generations, and under the guidance of Emmerich Knoll, the winery has become a reference point for age-worthy, site-expressive Austrian white wines.

Their approach combines traditional values with meticulous farming and low-intervention vinification. All vineyard work is done by hand, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and respect for the region’s historic terraced vineyards. While Knoll is perhaps best known for its profound Smaragd wines, its Federspiel bottlings—like this Grüner Veltliner—embody the estate’s precision and restraint in their most immediately drinkable form.