Veyder-Malberg - Grüner-Veltliner Weitenberg 2021

The rebellious and independently spirited Peter Veyder-Malberg works his vineyards organically, and mostly out of sight of the Danube in the Wachau’s coldest section, the Spitzer Graben, while others are scattered throughout the rest of the region. Rieslings are predominantly grown on gneiss and mica schist up on the steep, vertigo-inducing terraces, and Grüner Veltliners on the lower slopes largely influenced by loess.

Once the grapes are picked (usually in two pickings for each vineyard, completely avoiding botrytis) they may be macerated for up to 24 hours, depending on the year—higher acid years longer, warm years close to nothing. Basket pressed for 6-8 hours to give clean juice with quality tannins which helps with mouth feel and protection against oxidation, in turn lowering the amount of sulfites needed to properly protect the wine. Tank settled up to 24 hours—cleaner fruit settles less time or none at all. Fermentations are all natural and in a mix (depending the wine) of stainless steel and 300l-800l old barrels and usually peak between 20-25C—higher temperatures may develop unwanted reductive elements and lower temperature unwanted superficial esters. Malolactic fermentation is always natural and usually is completed in Grüner Veltlinesr and rarely in Rieslings. First sulfite additions are made after fermentation for Riesling in December or January following the harvest and after malolactic fermentation for Grüner Veltliner in Spring. Aged for 9 months in old 1500-liter Stockinger oak barrel. Lightly filtered (not sterile filtered). No fining.

Producer: Veyder-Malberg

Country: Austria

Region: Niederösterreich

Varietal: Weitenberg

Appellation: Wachau

Vintage:2021

Size: 750ml