2002 Nikolaihof Riesling Reserve Steiner Hund

Nikolaihof calls itself the oldest wine estate in Austria, dating its history back to the Romans, who built walls around what is now the estate. Vineyards have been on the estate since the 5th century when monks started making wine. In the late 19th century it was acquired by the Saahs family, which has been farming biodynamically since the early 1970s. The 60-acre estate in Wachau produces Riesling, Gruner Veltliner, Weissburgunder, Malvasier, Neuburger and Chardonnay. The 1995 Nikolaihof Vinothek Riesling was the first Austrian wine to earn 100 pts from The Wine Advocate.

Kremstal is a wine of southern Austria that includes both the north and south banks of the Danube River, which winds through this district and helps give the wines their distinct characteristics. The main towns here are Stein and Krems, and the soil is an unusually soft loess – meaning half soil and half rock. Vintners here say the loess terroir contributes greatly to the flinty, dry but concentrated Grüner Veltliners and Rieslings. Austria has only in the last decade or so started an appellation system, and it is still in flux. However, there is a Kremstal Austria Controllatus (DAC) for Grüner Veltliner and Riesling.

This white variety originated in Germany. It’s known for its strong flowery aromas and high acidity. Please note Rieslings can have dramatic differences as the grape can be used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling wines.