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The 2023 Grner Veltliner Ried Achleiten Smaragd is one of three wines Bodensteiner makes from this site. This wine is picked on either side of the Achleiten Tor, across twenty terraces each, on a mix of gneiss, Alpine deposits and amphibolite from vines planted in the 1950s. The shy nose gives a touch of citrus, slightly obscured by gently stony smoke. The palate is immediately graceful, slender and almost bony. The fine structure is clothed in translucent tangerine flavors, is juicy and friendly but graceful, and has terrific zestiness. Subtle spice on the nose only comes with more air. The 2023 is fine but also mild. (Dry) – By Anne Krebiehl MW on May 2024

“The wine year began with cool, humid weather, which delayed the bud break. From mid-may the sun came out continuously and provided a boost of vegetation. Thanks to the rainfall in spring, the vines were optimally supplied with water, only the hot summer months produced very dry conditions. The late flowering indicated a late harvest year. In August, the subsequent summer temperatures accelerated the ripening of the grapes. On August 26, a hailstorm destroyed parts of the grapes in Wsendorf, Joching, Weissenkirchen and partially the Spitzer Graben. Dry and windy weather conditions allowed the injured berries to dry well. These were removed by precise handwork.

In the eastern Wachau, harvest started in the second week of September with dry and warm summer temperatures. Large maturity differences between the individual vineyards were recognizable and strongly influenced by the vineyard management. As the harvest progressed in the eastern part of the Wachau, the ripening phase of the grapes in the west was delayed, so that harvest in Spitz was not completed until the beginning of November.”

~ VineaWachau on the 2023growing season and resulting harvest