Encyclopedia · White grape
Defined by rotundone — white pepper — combined with citrus and mineral. The pepper note is the diagnostic tell across all Austrian regions. Structure and weight vary by site classification.
Acidity high · Alcohol med–high · RS bone dry
Climate Cool continental. Steep terraced slopes on Danube. Gneiss and granite. Pannonian warm air meets cool Alpine nights.
Style Dry. Three Wachau classifications: Steinfeder (lightest), Federspiel (mid), Smaragd (richest). No oak standard.
Tell White pepper and citrus, structured mineral midpoint, fine-grained texture, dry and precise
Climate Transition zone — primary rock in west, loess in east. More varied than Wachau.
Style Dry. Loess sites give rounder, softer expression. Primary rock sites more mineral and structured.
Tell White pepper and citrus, structured acidity, herbal peppery finish, mineral backbone
Climate Continental. Loess and primary rock. Heiligenstein volcanic site is benchmark.
Style Dry. More body than Wachau at entry level. Heiligenstein GV approaches Smaragd complexity.
Tell White pepper and stone fruit, citrus precision, structured acidity, clean mineral finish
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