2021 Rudi Pichler Gruner Veltliner Smaragd "Ried Kollmütz", Wachau, Austria

ABOUT THIS WINE

Ried Kollmütz is one of the most iconic vineyard sites in the Wachau, a steep, terraced slope above Wösendorf with ancient weathered gneiss and loess soils. This terroir lends both minerality and texture to Grüner Veltliner, and in the hands of Rudi Pichler—one of Austria’s most meticulous and respected growers—the site produces wines of exceptional balance, depth, and age-worthiness.

The 2021 vintage was a classic cool-climate year in the Wachau, marked by long hang times, excellent acidity, and moderate alcohol levels—a perfect match for the Smaragd classification, which denotes the richest, most ageable dry wines in the Wachau system. Grapes were hand-harvested and whole-cluster pressed, with fermentation carried out in stainless steel and extended aging on the lees to preserve freshness and build complexity.

This wine combines the richness and concentration expected of Smaragd with striking clarity and structure. Notes of yellow apple, quince, fennel, and wet stone are wrapped in a silken, tightly wound core. The palate is powerful, with a slight phenolic grip, but perfectly balanced by precise acidity and a cool, mineral backbone. Drink now for tension and brightness, or cellar 10–15 years for honeyed depth and complexity.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Rudi Pichler is one of the leading producers in the Wachau and a guardian of precision and purity in Austrian winemaking. Based in Wösendorf, the Pichler family has been farming vines in the Wachau since the 1730s. Today, Rudi continues that legacy with a deep respect for terroir, sustainable viticulture, and low-intervention cellar work.

The estate works exclusively with estate-grown fruit from some of the Wachau’s top sites, including Hochrain, Achleiten, and Kollmütz. Farming is done without herbicides or synthetic chemicals, and yields are kept low to preserve concentration and site expression.

In the cellar, Rudi employs long lees contact, spontaneous fermentations, and stainless steel or large neutral oak, depending on the variety and site. His wines—especially the Smaragd bottlings—are known for their power, clarity, and ability to age for decades without losing vibrancy.

The Ried Kollmütz Grüner Veltliner Smaragd stands as a benchmark for the variety: a wine that captures the geological history and dramatic beauty of the Wachau in every glass.