Famous wines: Best of Wachau

Wine Inspiration

Falstaff reveals nine DAC wines from the Wachau that you shouldn't miss out on.

Falstaff Editorial Team, Peter Moser,

02.04.2024

Although the Wachau only has just under 1,300 hectares of vineyards, most of which are located on steep stone terraces in the Danube Valley and in some side valleys such as the Spitzer Graben, it is internationally renowned for its high quality and is Austria's best-known wine-growing region. The Wachau is particularly praised for its Riesling, which grows to world class here on primary rock soils. With an 18.4 percent share, the Wachau has the highest density of Riesling, yet the area is limited at 240 hectares, making Wachau Riesling a coveted rarity. However, with 830 hectares and 64 percent of the vineyards, Grüner Veltliner is clearly the leading variety. Since the 2020 vintage, the Wachau has been a DAC region and has chosen the three-tier system of regional, local and Riedenwein for its wines of origin, which has already been successfully implemented in other regions. Falstaff reveals nine fabulous wines from the popular region.

Best of Wachau

Weingut Knoll

Light golden yellow, silver reflections. Fine nuances of yellow stone fruit, but also tropical fruit aspects, a touch of honey blossom, inviting, suggestive bouquet. Complex, substantial, seamless texture, finesse-rich structure, white peach, fine fruit sweetness, enormous length, perfect balance, lemony-salty nuances on the finish, lingers for minutes, a perfect food companion, Riesling like velvet and silk.

Wachau, Austria

100

Weingut Prager

Light greenish yellow, silver reflections. Fine savoury, delicate nuances of anise, tobacco notes, delicate yellow fruit, a touch of mango and honey blossom. Full-bodied, juicy white apple fruit, well-integrated, silky acidity structure, finesse and long persistence, saline finish, lingers for minutes, Veltliner at its best.

Wachau, Austria

99 - 100

Weingut Franz Hirtzberger

Light yellow-green, silver reflections. Very multilayered fine tropical fruit, hints of peach, floral nuances, delicate saffron and tangerine zest, seductive bouquet. Juicy, complex, white stone fruit, fresh and lively, finesse-rich structure, mineral-salty finish, enormous length, great balance and secure ageing potential for many years, simply Riesling in perfection.

Wachau, Austria

99 - 100

Weingut F. X. Pichler

Light greenish yellow, silver reflections. Delicate yellow tropical fruit, hints of peach, nuances of orange blossom, multi-faceted layered bouquet. Juicy, elegant, taut, finesse-rich, well-integrated, very precise acid arc, mineral, lemony touch, silky texture, well-integrated delicate fruit sweetness on the finish, lingering for minutes, great palate cinema.

Wachau, Austria

99 - 100

Weingut Rudi Pichler

Light yellow-green, silver reflections. Inviting yellow tropical fruit, white peach, but also a delicate hint of red berries. Complex on the palate, silky texture, fine stone fruit, finesse-rich acidity structure, delicate fruit sweetness on the finish, mineral framed, already very harmonious and resting in itself, fine nuances of yellow fruit on the finish, immensely seductive.

Wachau, Austria

Weingut Alzinger

Light greenish yellow, silver reflections. Delicate floral aromas, fine white tropical fruit, delicate hints of saffron and lime, multi-faceted bouquet, immensely playful. Juicy, taut, white stone fruit, lively, harmonious and mineral, very delicate, light-footed style, lemony touch on the finish, already very seductive in youth.

Wachau, Austria

97 - 99

FJ Gritsch – Mauritiushof

Light greenish yellow, silver reflections. Fine nuances of white peach, hints of flowers and limes, fine minerality, multi-faceted and cool. Taut, tightly meshed, fine fruit sweetness, ripe vineyard peach, finesse-rich acid arc, delicate sweetness on the finish, delicate, light-footed style, very good length, offers great drinking animo, certain ageing potential for many years.

Wachau, Austria

Weingut Pichler-Krutzler

Medium greenish yellow, silver reflections. Delicate floral honey and mango, a touch of orange zest, floral touch, mineral touch. Complex, silky, white peach, finesse-rich acid structure, salty touch on the finish, immensely balanced, a piquant, slender food companion, certain ageing potential.

Wachau, Austria

97 - 99

Weingut Josef & Georg Högl

Light yellow-green, silver reflections. Fine nuances of white stone fruit, floral peach notes, a hint of lime, inviting bouquet. Taut, juicy, silky texture, fine fruit expression in the core, finesse-rich acidity, delicate and light on its feet, certain ageing potential.

Wachau, Austria

96 - 98