Domane Wachau Gruner Veltliner VDN 2021

Cellar for up to 35 years. Serve immediately, or decant up to 30 minutes before.

Under exemplary leadership, Domäne Wachau has become one of Austria’s top wineries. Manager Roman Horvath is the second Austrian ever to receive the title of “Master of Wine”, while cellar master Heinz Frischengruber studied oenology at the internationally-renowned Geisenheim, in Germany.

They source their fruits from the steep banks of the Danube, where vintner families employed by the winery work small vineyard plots by hand. Domäne Wachau work with nature, rather than attempting to shape it. Their goal is to express the origin of the wine as accurately as possible - and they have done so, with astounding success.

This offering from Wachau is a fortified wine, combining the famous Grüner Veltliner with Wachau brandy. It's a brilliant yellow colour, thick and viscous in the glass, with scents of ripe apples and smoke. Grüner has excellent ageing potential, which is only improved with the addition of brandy. This wine is also delicious enough to be enjoyed immediately. At their yearly harvest, Domäne sometimes top this fortified wine up with tonic. While potent and powerful, it is delightfully sweet and crisp on the palate. Notes of honey, caramel and Austrian apple strudel all mingle, with a zesty citrus backbone. This is a food-friendly wine, serve chilled, with a wide variety of food: seafood, salads, something spicy or smoked meats.