# Josef Fischer Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Mugler (2022)

- **Producer:** Weingut Josef Fischer
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Grüner Veltliner
- **Region:** Niederösterreich, Austria
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €28
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** peach, apricot, pear, apple, lemon, grapefruit, white pepper, black pepper, herbaceous, mint, cream, butter, smoke, honey, dried apricot, almond

## About this wine

Weingut Josef Fischer is located in Rossatz on the southern bank of the Danube River in the Wachau region. Led by fifth-generation winemaker Josef 'Joe' Fischer and his wife Katja, the estate focuses on expressing the unique, cooler microclimate of the right bank. The Ried Mugler vineyard is a steep, terraced site characterized by complex, weathered mineral bedrock where Migmatite-Amphibolite and Gföhler Gneiss meet. This unique geological profile, combined with cool downslope winds from the nearby Dunkelsteinerwald forest, allows for a slow, steady ripening process that yields wines of exceptional concentration, structure, and mineral tension.

## Interesting facts

- The Mugler vineyard features a steep slope of up to 76% incline, requiring intensive manual labor on historic stone terraces.
- Winemaker Josef 'Joe' Fischer represents the fifth generation of his family crafting wines on the southern banks of the Danube.
- The soil is a unique meeting point of weathered Gföhler Gneiss and Migmatite-Amphibolite, imparting a distinct mineral character.

## Food pairing

As a Smaragd-tier Grüner Veltliner, this wine possesses a powerful, concentrated body balanced by vibrant acidity and a distinct phenolic grip. It pairs exceptionally well with rich, savory meats like pork or veal, where the acidity cuts through the fat. Its pronounced intensity and subtle white pepper spice also make it an outstanding partner for moderately spicy Asian dishes, as the wine has the weight and texture to stand up to bold spices without being overpowered.

## Wine making process

The grapes are 100% hand-harvested with strict selection to ensure only pristine fruit is processed. After gentle crushing, the grapes undergo a short cold maceration on the skins to extract structural phenolics and aromatic precursors. Spontaneous fermentation is carried out using only native wild yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks over a period of two months. The wine is then aged on its fine lees for four months in stainless steel, followed by an additional six months of maturation in a combination of stainless steel vessels and large, neutral oak casks. To preserve its natural texture and mineral salinity, the wine is bottled completely unfined and unfiltered.