Pale gold color; green apple, mango, pineapple, lemon-lime, white pepper, nutmeg, vanilla hint, white spice, minerality on the nose and palate.
Dry/trocken; no tannins, good acidity. Lean, lively, crisp. Grapes are organically grown without the use of insecticides or herbicides. With more than 370 acres of organic vineyards, Domäne Wachau is Austria’s leading wine estate with organically cultivated vines. The acres are cultivated mainly by hand by vignerons, each working about five acres, thus allowing them to concentrate on the vines. After sorting, the grapes are processed in a pneumatic tank press and fermented with the must in temperature-controlled stainless steel and aged on the lees in stainless steel. 12.5% ABV
Domäne Wachau considers this a benchmark wine with medium body and juicy fruits.The Federspiel name comes from falconry, a popular leisure activity among nobility in medieval times. The “falcon” name stands for the elegance and refinement of this wine. The winery is led by Master of Wine Roman Horvath. His team works with a collection of growers committed to quality assurance. That is no surprise. Austria imposes very stringent wine regulations, and the Wachau region goes beyond those regulations. The Wachau is a UNESCO World Heritage Site stretching along the banks of the Danube. Many of the vineyards—such as Domäne Washau—are steep and terraced with very old, dry stone walls. This is a special wine from a special place.
Despite its name, grüner veltliner does not belong to the veltliner family of grapes. It name likely comes morphological similarities to brauner veltliner, a mutation of roter veltliner. The website notes: “much suggests that Grüner Veltliner originated in Niederösterreich (Lower Austria). It is a natural cross between Traminer and St. Georgen and due to Traminer the Rotgipfler variety is a sibling. St. Georgen is a grape variety that has only recently been rediscovered in Burgenland and plays a formative role only as a parent to Grüner Veltliner.”
Grüner veltliner is the most planted white wine grape in Austria. The website notes: “The Domäne Wachau has played a decisive role in the evolvement of Grüner Veltliner into one of Austria’s most renowned grape varieties from an early stage. The first single-vineyard wines in the 1930s paved the path that was followed and consistently developed over the next generations. Today, the Domäne Wachau produces about three dozen different Grüner Veltliner wines from approximately 300 hectares. This range reflects the astonishing versatility of the variety and the many different facets of the respective vineyards.”
Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner Federspiel Terrassen, Austria 2022 is classic example of Austria’s most planted white grape. Light, elegant. Grüner veltliner is extremely versatile and presents here as a very dry, fruity wine with good acidity and lower alcohol, making it an outstanding food wine. Pair with light seafood, grilled fish, smoked salmon, shellfish. Asparagus and artichokes—grüner veltliner is one of the very few wines that pair with these vegetables. Asian cuisine—especially those with ginger, lemongrass, or mild curries. Schnitzel or other fried foods—acidity cuts through the richness. Light salads, especially those with cucumber, apple, seafood elements. Vegetarian fare. Cheese—fresh goat cheese; mozzarella, young pecorino, ricotta, havarti, feta, camembert, bucheron. Best with young, fresh, creamy cheeses. $18
Domäne Washau website Terrassen wines
