Nikolaihof - Grüner Veltliner "Hefeabzug" 2021

Nikolaihof is one of the oldest wine estates in Austria, whose history goes back almost 2000 years to the Roman empire. Originally chosen by the Romans because it was considered a Celtic holy site prior to 800 B.C., the foundations of the current house date to a Roman tower which existed as early as 63 B.C. Wine has been produced here since the time of the Celts and continued throughout the time of the Romans. Germanic monks obtained the estate during the collapse of Rome, and the first written evidence of winemaking comes from 470 A.D. This writing documented the monk’s ownership of the vineyard ‘Im Weingebirge’, the earliest named vineyard site in all of Europe.

In 1894 the Saahs family acquired Nikolaihof and carried on the traditions the monks had established here. Integrated farming continued, and even as winemaking and grape growing took a larger role at Nikolaihof in the 1960s, chemicals were never used in farming. Essentially this estate has always been organic. Nicholas Saahs and his wife Christine took over the estate in the late 1960s and Christine instigated the conversion to biodynamic farming. Nikolaihof has been practicing biodynamics since 1971, making them one of the longest biodynamic practicing wineries in the world. Nikolaihof became Demeter certified biodynamic in 1998. As of 2005, Nikolaus Saahs, Christine and Nicholas’ son, has taken over winemaking and operations at this historic winery.

Nikolaihof still functions as an independent, biodiverse farm, growing all kinds of herbs, fruits and flowers, tending beehives for honey, and even using seeds for grapeseed oil. The average age of the vines at the estate is 47 years old and the vineyards are farmed without herbicides, pesticides, artificial fertilizers, or synthetic sprays. Instead, stinging nettles, manure, valerian root, and other specially produced preparations are used. Natural fermentations are the rule, in Austrian oak vessels, deep in the cold, 700-year-old cellar. Long lees contact and aging are the norms, with some wines aging as long as 15 years before being bottled.

Nikolaihof’s holdings are some of the farthest east in the Wachau near the village of Mautern on the Danube’s south bank. These are also some of the oldest known vineyards in Europe with sites such as “im Weingebirge” being mentioned as far back as 470AD. Whether it’s Nikolaus biodynamic know-how, his focus on ancestral vinification techniques, or the quality of his terroir, the resulting wines are wildly unique and joyful. They are singular wines; irreplicable anywhere else in the wine making world.

“The bright nose of flint, green apple and cassis pulls you into this refreshing young gruner veltliner, which has stacks of fresh-herb character and plenty of depth on the medium-bodied palate. Crisp finish with nice wet-stone minerality. Matured sur-lie until immediately before bottling. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink now. Screw cap.” - 90 Points, James Suckling

Producer: Nikolaihof

Country: Austria 

Region: Niederösterreich

Varietal: Grüner Veltliner

Appellation: Niederösterreich

Vintage: 2021

Size: 750ml