# Grüner Veltliner Wachau DAC Ried Kellerberg (2021)

- **Producer:** Weingut Pichler-Krutzler
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Grüner Veltliner
- **Region:** Niederösterreich, Austria
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €35
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 11–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** chive, orange, papaya, peach, white pepper, yellow apple, mango, honey, coffee, cloves, vanilla, chocolate, blossom, honey, orange marmalade, dried apricot, almond, caramel, hazelnut

## About this wine

The Pichler-Krutzler Grüner Veltliner Ried Kellerberg 2021 is a single-vineyard expression from the esteemed Wachau region of Austria. The Kellerberg vineyard, with its southeast-facing terraces and Gneiss and Loess soils, benefits from a long vegetation period due to cool night airflow, leading to a late harvest. Founded in 2007, Weingut Pichler-Krutzler, by Elisabeth Pichler-Krutzler and Erich Krutzler, focuses on producing wines of purity and character with minimal intervention. The 2021 vintage is noted for its deep, clear, and complex profile, offering a refreshing yet substantial wine.

## Interesting facts

- The Kellerberg vineyard's soils are composed of weathered Gneiss and Loess.
- Grapes are hand-harvested very late in the season, often in late October/early November.
- The estate has been certified organic since 2022.
- Fermentation is spontaneous, relying on natural yeasts.

## Food pairing

The wine's vibrant acidity cuts through richness and complements fatty elements, while its minerality and subtle herbal notes harmonize with delicate proteins and vegetables. Citrus and herb components in the wine bridge well with similar flavors in dishes.

## Wine making process

The Grüner Veltliner grapes are hand-harvested late in the season, typically in late October or early November. Fermentation is spontaneous, utilizing natural yeasts. Following fermentation, the wine undergoes a 10-month maturation period in large oak casks ranging from 6 to 15 hectoliters. The producer employs minimal intervention throughout the winemaking process, with a commitment to organic farming practices, having achieved organic certification in 2022.