Alte Setzen Erste Lage Grüner Veltliner 2023

From the Alte Setzen vineyard, classified as Erste Lage in the Traisental region, this Grüner Veltliner originates on terraced slopes overlooking the banks of the Traisen River in Lower Austria. The vines are planted in limestone and gravelly soils, typical of this cool valley with its moderate continental climate, where temperature variations promote slow and complete ripening. Located not far from the Danube and south of the Wachau Valley, this precise and well-ventilated terroir is renowned for producing taut, deeply mineral white wines of great aromatic purity.

The Grüner Veltliner grapes are hand-harvested in the Alte Setzen vineyard, followed by gentle pressing of the whole bunches. After static settling, alcoholic fermentation takes place slowly in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve aromatic purity and minerality. The wine is then aged on its fine lees in stainless steel tanks for several months, with moderate stirring depending on the vintage, before careful bottling to retain the precision, tension, and expression of the Erste Lage terroir.

This wine reveals notes of crisp green apple , juicy pear , and citrus , complemented by subtle floral touches and spicy accents of white pepper . A pronounced minerality is also perceptible, reminiscent of wet stone and chalk. On the palate, the wine is both ample and precise, driven by a lively acidity that lengthens the finish, with a slightly chalky texture and a lingering impression of great freshness.

Austrian viticulture has made enormous strides in wine quality over the past decade. Today, Austrian winemakers no longer produce cheap wines for mass consumption, but rather refined and complex wines. Austria produces 65% white wines. From a general perspective, Austrian wines are more powerful and richer than those of their German neighbor. The major and most widely planted national grape variety is Grüner Veltliner (an indigenous white grape). Red wine production continues to increase in volume, intensity, and quality. In Burgenland, in particular, producers are making the most of a unique blend of local grape varieties (Blaufränkisch, Saint-Laurent, Zweigelt) and French varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir). Austria's climate is primarily continental, with cold winters and hot summers. The country is influenced by four main weather patterns. To the east, continental influences from Pannonia; to the west, Atlantic influences as well as cold winds from the north; and to the south, Mediterranean influences. The Danube, meandering languidly through numerous vineyards, brings a variety of microclimates to the vines.