Rudi Pichler
Riesling Ried Hochrain Smaragd
Rudi Pichler
Riesling Ried Hochrain Smaragd
The Pichler family has been making wine in the village of Wösendorf since at least the late 19th century. The original cellar building, more of a small stall than a winery, was purchased in 1884 and their first vineyards were planted in the town of Wosendorf in 1904. The modern winery was built in 2004 near Rudi´s private home. After some initial wanderlust and the pursuit of various other interests – academic and commercial – Rudolf Pichler IV returned to the family winery with a seed of an idea. He had no formal training other than his memories of his grandfather and his instincts for great wine.
Documented as early as 1050, the site in Wösendorf, at the foot of the Hochrain, is influenced by the sediment and stone soils of its highly situated vineyards, producing wines with a dense mineral texture and fine fruity flavors. Smaragd is the Wachau designation for dry late harvest wines, above 12.5% alcohol through natural fermentation. The best smaragd wines can age well for decades.
Tasting Notes
Light golden yellow with aromas of dried apricots, beeswax, Meyer lemon and hints of spice. On the palate, the wine has dense mineral texture, fine fruit flavors, and good acidity, all contributing to a long and savory finish.
Food Pairing
Pair with drunken chicken, honey-soy roasted pork, or Gruyere soufflé.
The Pichler family has been making wine in the village of Wösendorf since at least the late 19th century. The original cellar building, more of a small stall than a winery, was purchased in 1884 and their first vineyards were planted in the town of Wosendorf in 1904. The modern winery was built in 2004 near Rudi´s private home. After some initial wanderlust and the pursuit of various other interests – academic and commercial – Rudolf Pichler IV returned to the family winery with a seed of an idea. He had no formal training other than his memories of his grandfather and his instincts for great wine.
Documented as early as 1050, the site in Wösendorf, at the foot of the Hochrain, is influenced by the sediment and stone soils of its highly situated vineyards, producing wines with a dense mineral texture and fine fruity flavors. Smaragd is the Wachau designation for dry late harvest wines, above 12.5% alcohol through natural fermentation. The best smaragd wines can age well for decades.
Tasting Notes
Light golden yellow with aromas of dried apricots, beeswax, Meyer lemon and hints of spice. On the palate, the wine has dense mineral texture, fine fruit flavors, and good acidity, all contributing to a long and savory finish.
Food Pairing
Pair with drunken chicken, honey-soy roasted pork, or Gruyere soufflé.
Brand Materials
Vineyard & Production Info
Winemaking & Aging
Analytical Data
About the Vineyard
Hochrain ("High place") belongs to the village of Wosendorf and sits in the middle part of the Wachau valley between 200-300 meters of elevation. The vineyard consists of an unusually high content of loess with a layer of black earth on top. The rich mineral-laden soil is responsible for the character of its wines and produces Gruner Veltliner that is especially broad, rich and textural.
