Weingut Emmerich Knoll : Grüner Veltliner Ried Loibenberg Smaragd 2024

Tasting characteristics and tips for the Grüner Veltliner Ried Loibenberg Smaragd 2024 from Weingut Emmerich Knoll

Tasting

Color
The wine shows a pale yellow hue with golden highlights.

Nose
The nose reveals lovely aromatic complexity with notes of ripe pear and candied citrus, complemented by mineral nuances reminiscent of crushed ivory. White pepper, the signature of Grüner Veltliner, comes through with elegance, while herbaceous hints of rosemary and aromas of mango pit round out this refined bouquet.

Palate
On the palate, the wine is rich and full-bodied, with fine concentration. Well-integrated acidity brings freshness and tension, supported by pronounced minerality. The palate reveals vibrant citrus flavors and yeasty notes, reflecting controlled fermentation. The finish lingers with elegance.

Food and wine pairings

This Grüner Veltliner Ried Loibenberg Smaragd 2024 pairs perfectly with asparagus, delicate fish such as trout or halibut, as well as seafood like scallops and shrimp. It also matches very well with lightly spiced poultry and soft cheeses made from cow’s or goat’s milk. For more exotic pairings, this wine enhances Asian dishes with gentle spices, particularly preparations featuring ginger or coriander.

Serving and cellaring

The Grüner Veltliner Ried Loibenberg Smaragd 2024 can be enjoyed now, but it will reveal its full complexity with time. Its aging potential extends to around 2040.

An exceptional Grüner Veltliner from the Wachau by Weingut Emmerich Knoll

The estate

Established in 1825 in Unterloiben, in the prestigious Wachau region of Lower Austria, Weingut Emmerich Knoll is one of the benchmark names in Austrian winegrowing. A family estate now run by Emmerich Knoll III, who also heads the Vinea Wachau association, the domaine spans around 15 hectares of terraced vineyards. Recognizable since 1962 for its baroque labels adorned with Saint-Urbain, the estate embodies a production philosophy focused on the pure expression of terroir, favoring taut, concentrated, balanced wines over overly powerful styles. The Knoll family perpetuates know-how handed down from generation to generation, combining tradition with uncompromising quality.

The vineyard

The Grüner Veltliner Ried Loibenberg Smaragd 2024 comes from the Ried Loibenberg vineyard, one of the warmest and sunniest sites in the Wachau, located in Unterloiben. This outstanding terroir is characterized by soils made up of loess and gneiss, offering remarkable geological diversity. Loess, a fine sedimentary deposit, provides moisture and heat retention, while gneiss lends minerality and structure to the wine. The vines are planted on steep, south-facing terraces, benefiting from optimal sun exposure. This unique terroir allows Grüner Veltliner to express all its elegance and complexity, producing wines of great finesse and remarkable balance.

The vintage

The year 2024 in Austria proved relatively warm during the summer, without being excessively dry. The balanced weather conditions allowed for optimal grape ripening, with little need for irrigation on the terraces. This climatic moderation, combined with summer warmth, encouraged full aromatic development while preserving the natural acidity characteristic of great Wachau wines.

Winemaking and aging

The Grüner Veltliner Ried Loibenberg Smaragd 2024 is vinified with a minimalist approach that respects the terroir. The grapes are harvested by hand at optimal ripeness. Fermentation is carried out with indigenous yeasts, without artificial inoculation, allowing an authentic expression of the fruit. The grapes are not destemmed before fermentation, preserving the stems to add structure and complexity. The wine is then aged in neutral or old wooden foudres, promoting slow micro-oxygenation without excessive extraction of woody tannins. Malolactic fermentation is deliberately blocked to preserve the natural malic acidity, ensuring freshness and outstanding aging potential.

Grape variety

100% Grüner Veltliner