2021 Prager Gruner Veltliner Weissenkirchner Achleiten Smaragd

Prager is in Austria’s Wachau valley. It is owned and operated by Ilse and Toni Bodenstein. Ilse inherited the estate from her father and she and her husband produce Riesling and Gruner Veltliner. Robert M. Parker Jr. has been awarded the wines scores in the 90s and notes that Toni Bodenstein has taken the winery “to the outer limits of complexity achievable in dry Riesling.”

This white grape is widely grown in Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia. As a wine, it is food friendly and has beaten top Chardonnays in blind tastings. It compares to a white Burgundy in richness and texture, and offers an exotic alternative to Sauvignon Blanc.