Rudi Pichler – Riesling Ried Hochrain Smarag – 2016

Description

In the world of wine, common horizons are beginning to broaden; for the past few decades attention has been turning to those countries that have been practicing viticulture for centuries and producing wines of enormous quality-one such country is Austria. Not the classic producer by reputation but one with ancient traditions, it has suitable territorial conditions made up of hills and rivers similar to Germany, temperate climates that allow the cultivation mainly of native white grapes such as Veltliner, and families that have been succeeding each other for generations. The Rudi Pichler winery sees its founding in 1731 in Wosendorf and is one of the most renowned in the country, located in the heart of the Wachau region. It is a small valley bordered by the Danube considered the most important in the country where climatic conditions are milder and vineyards terraced up to 500 meters, a reality separated from the rest because of its unique landscape and geologically varied. Over the years there have been figures full of passion, compared to the past real “breakpoints” moved by the intent to produce only exceptional wines, so much knowledge and precision in the work to make them unmistakable and promoters of the country like few, since 1997 the whole thing is managed by the last descendant Rudolph Pichler III. It was from 2004 that a decisive leap toward modernity occurred, the introduction of both agricultural techniques and zoning and the construction of a new winery equipped with state-of-the-art facilities are now the basis of the identity of Pichler wines. The expansion of the vineyards to 15 hectares allowed for a larger and more specific production with different labels; the main varieties of the region such as Gruner Veltliner, Riesling and Pinot Blanc are grown. The sole purpose was to rediscover the old origins of these varietals famous for their aromatic depth and radiant minerality, a choice of well-ripened clusters from different types of Terroir and shorter vinifications than in years past represent their style. Emerging and established reality for unique high-class wines, among the main custodians of Austria’s new wine frontier.