RiedKirnberg
Grüner Veltliner Smaragd
Smaragd from an austere site - Minerality & Density
This site is considered to be probably the warmest on the right bank of the Danube in the Wachau. Characterized by a high plateau with shallow topsoil and austere gneiss-granite rock, it produces an exceptionally mineral-rich, yet dense Grüner Veltliner. Through careful selection of the grapes, we manage to vinify an outstanding Smaragd even under these dry conditions. The fermentation occurs spontaneously, partly in wood, partly in steel. Afterwards, the wine matures on the fine lees until August before it is bottled – a characterful Veltliner with depth and elegance.
Terroir Ried Kirnberg
A plateau full of history and expression.
The Kirnberg presents itself more as a high plateau than a mountain, which becomes particularly evident when looking from the terrain edge onto the Danube floodplains.
Massive rocks protrude at several points, while the subsoil is mainly characterized by paragneiss and ranker soil. In the eastern part of this site, predominantly Grüner Veltliner thrives, while towards the terrain edge, mainly Riesling is found, which here unfolds its probably most beautiful expression on the southern bank.
The name ‘Churnperig’ was first mentioned as early as 1451, with the name’s relation to ‘Korn’ (grain) indicating an old mill.
Shaped by rock and mica
A fascinating interplay of paragneiss and loess.
The base of the Kirnberg, which visually resembles a table mountain, consists mainly of paragneiss. In the eastern direction, this is increasingly covered by terrace gravel from the Mindel glaciation. The described soil profile comes from the western part of the Kirnberg, where the paragneiss visibly emerges.
Paragneisses are metamorphic rocks that originally formed from sediments during the Variscan orogeny. On the Kirnberg, the rock appears similar to mica schist, rich in dark mica as well as magnesium and iron-containing biotite.
The topsoil is mixed with loess, where the dissolved lime has been washed out and partially precipitated again between the lighter layers of the mica schist.
