Weingut Rudi Pichler

THE RUDI PICHLER ESTATE

The Wachau Formed by the Danube River, shaped by winegrowers into stone terraces built by arduous labour, protected and preserved in its native beauty by forward-thinking individuals, the Wachau was designated a World Heritage Cultural Landscape by UNESCO in the year 2000.

The Estate A fixture in Wösendor f since 1731, the family dedicate themselves to viticulture, cultivating 15 hectares of vineyard. Their area under vines is apportioned between 65% Grüner Veltliner and 30% Riesling, with the remaining 5% shared by Weissburgunder and Roter Veltliner – all vinified according to the three quality categories of the Vinea Wachau: Steinfeder, Federspiel and Smaragd.

The Winegrower To recognise the characteristics of the various dif fering vineyard sites, then to ar ticulate them and preserve them in the finished wine: this is what motivates Rudi Pichler. Wines of authenticity, which define themselves through the various soils types, age of vines, exposure/orientation and microclimate: these are the result.

The Wines

G R Ü N E R V E LT L I N E R Federspiel

Terrassen Smaragd Kollmütz Smaragd Hochrain Smaragd Achleithen Smaragd

W E I S S B U R G U N D E R Kollmütz Smaragd

R I E S L I N G Federspiel

Terrassen Smaragd Steinriegl Smaragd Kirchweg Smaragd Hochrain Smaragd Achleithen Smaragd

R O T E R V E LT L I N E R Smaragd

Grüner Veltliner

G R Ü N E R V E LT L I N E R F E D E R S P I E L

Vines growing in valley vineyard sites, upon the hillsides and planted in upper-elevation terraces shape the aromatic and spicy multifacetted character of this wine, delivering pure, sophisticated drinking pleasure.

Terrassen G R Ü N E R V E LT L I N E R S M A R A G D The soil characteristics of many small and excellent parcels achieve a unified expression in this Smaragd: fine minerality, subtle fruit aromas, spicy notes of tobacco and peppery elegance.

Wösendorfer Kollmütz G R Ü N E R V E LT L I N E R S M A R A G D Rooted deeply on steep stone terraces, the vines – more than 40 years of age – bring for th wines characterised by a commanding minerality paired with complex fruit aromas.

Wösendorfer Hochrain G R Ü N E R V E LT L I N E R S M A R A G D Grapevines up to 50 years of age on soils of weathered primordial rock, par tially covered with loess, yield an extract-rich, profound and archetypal Veltliner.

Weissenkirchner Achleithen G R Ü N E R V E LT L I N E R S M A R A G D Growing upon steep, southwesterly-exposed terraces, planted in Gföhler gneiss, these 50+ year-old vines produce a profoundly mineral-driven and puristic Grüner Veltiner, one that impressively documents the potential of this storied site.

ERNTE 2011

Weissburgunder

Wösendorfer Kollmütz W E I S S B U R G U N D E R S M A R A G D Planted on terraces of Gföhler gneiss and loess, these old vines yield a wine of pregnant mineral character with generous fruit and a lively structure of acidity.

Roter Veltliner

R O T E R V E LT L I N E R S M A R A G D

An old parcel of vines across the Danube in Mautern makes the potential of this old and rare grape variety abundantly clear: an archaic and ear thy aromatic profile, with spicy minerality, a firm texture and extraordinary aging potential.

Riesling

R I E S L I N G F E D E R S P I E L

A combination of upper-elevation terraces and valley sites with weathered soils impar ts complexity to this elegant and subtly fruit- forward Riesling.

Terrassen R I E S L I N G S M A R A G D Soils of primordial rock on old terraces enjoying various elevations and exposures yield an elegant table companion for fine dining, with subtle mineral notes of slate, a delicate structure and aromas reminiscent of white peaches.

Weissenkirchner Steinriegl R I E S L I N G S M A R A G D Soils rich in calcium silicate contribute to the refined delicacy and broad aromatic spectrum of wines from this site. Easily approachable early on, but never theless showing great cellar potential.

Wösendorfer Kirchweg R I E S L I N G S M A R A G D From a vineyard site first officially mentioned in the 12th century. Situated at the foot of the Hochrain, the soils of this site are affected by washed-down sediments and stones from the vineyard above, which makes for wines with a dense mineral-driven texture and refined fruit aromas.

Wösendorfer Hochrain R I E S L I N G S M A R A G D Grapevines up to 40 years old provide the material for this delicately fruit-driven and multifacetted Riesling, displaying a minerality typical for this top site in Wösendor f.

Weissenkirchner Achleithen R I E S L I N G S M A R A G D Extreme terraced sites with southwesterly exposure and the most meagre soils of Gföhler gneiss translate into pure minerality for this puristic Riesling, the one that most fittingly represents our concept of authenticity and identity in a wine.

Geology and Soils The oldest parent rock of our soils was moulded during the Variscan orogeny, as the seabed of the Rheic Ocean rose upward to become a mountain range, transformed during a period of geologic upheaval some 300–370 million years ago. Weathering and erosion have worn down the roots of these mountains into the undulating hills of the Bohemian Massif, and just a few million years

ago cut the Danube River deeply through the Wachau. During the most recent ice age, from 110,000–14,000 years ago, loess was deposited from outwash plains and tundra, drif ting in from the eastern side, while sites near the Danube River are composed from more recently accumulated river sediments. One also encounters locally isolated alluvial deposits lef t by the Tethys Sea, the precursor to today’s Mediterranean.

Kollmütz

The soils of Ried Kollmütz developed out of the Wösendor f Slide Mass, from severely weathered crystalline rock called paragneiss. Paragneiss was formed from metamorphosed sediments, created under extreme conditions of increased pressure and heat during the Variscan orogeny, becoming exposed once more af ter extensive erosion of the erstwhile mountain range. The paragneisses of the Wachau are several hundred million years old and are distinguished by their multifacetted mineral constituents. The slumping process of the slide mass itself is dated by geologists to the Egerian Period (ca. 20–25 million years ago). The sandy and calcareous soils of the Kollmütz are par ticularly rich in iron, manganese and magnesium.

Hochrain

The Wachau remained free of ice during the major glacial periods. Persistent west winds deposited massive layers of loess, above all on the downwind eastern side, which today provides the subsoil for Ried Hochrain. Wachau loess drif ted in above all during the most recent glaciation, the Würm Ice Age, which ended some 14,000 years ago. Loess is especially characterised by a high concentration of calcareous silt, a grain-sized soil group between sand and clay, handily redistributed by the wind. Depending upon the degree of decomposition present in the loess, it will form soils of light to medium density.

Hochrain Ralais

Achleithen

The soils of the higher-elevation, steeply inclined parcel Hochrain- Ralais of fer an impressive contrast to the loess soils at the foot of the slope, with respect to their geologic/pedologic contrasts in subsoil. Here the dominant feature is paragneiss with a far lesser degree of weathering than is the case with the Wösendor f Slide Mass of the Kollmütz. The soils, colluvially- relocated shallow Regosols display

a very sandy texture and are vir tually free of carbonates.

Hochrain-Ralais

Before construction of the village church, residents of Wösendor f were obliged to walk along the Kirchweg, the church- path, to nearby Sankt Michael. Ried Kirchweg lies just nor th of the path, where the vineyard borders on the Hochrain, and was known early-on for producing par ticularly good results with Riesling on the higher-situated Wösendor f side. The reason for this is a small tributary stream, which during heavy rainfalls has blanketed the Danube sediments with sand and coarsely grained streambed stones, creating a gently sloping alluvial fan. Next to the westerly Achleithen, the Kirchweg soils display the least concentration of carbonates in their subsoil. The lower-lying side closer to St. Michael is composed of Danube sediments and reserved for the Grüner Veltliner.

Kirchweg

Steinriegl

The subsoil of Ried Steinriegl in Weissenkirchen is composed, like the Kollmütz, of a severely weathered paragneiss/landslip soil. In the anterior Steinriegl, banded and silicatic marbles come to the fore, which translates to a high limestone content in the ground. Layered upon this lie instances of calcareous gravel from an ancient period of intense cold, the Danube glaciation, which took place even before the four well-known ice ages Günz, Mindel, Riss and Würm. During the ice ages the Danube River, thanks to minimal flowing water and reduced drag force, deposited great gravel fans that today are still preserved in insular spots. Thanks to a high gravel content, the soils are quite permeable and easily warmed in the springtime.

Westerly Achleithen

The soils in the idyllically situated westerly Achleithen consist of a blend of sandy fine ear th with coarse scree and stone, mixed with Gföhler gneiss and migmatitic amphibolite. Of all our vineyard sites, the westerly Achleithen manifests the least limestone content. Great por tions of it are even limestone-free, where the pH value of the soil turns out correspondingly lower. In the higher elevation parcels, soils are dominated by Gföhler gneiss, while migmatitic amphibolite prevails in the lower levels. Because of landslides, both types of stone appear in the lower parcels.

Over the course of the Variscian ontogeny, 350 million years ago, the stone was transformed into so-called migmatitic granite gneiss. The migmatitic amphibolite in the lower vineyard parcels is a metamorphic rock as well, one which underwent a par tial melting. The name refers to the high concentration of the alkaline mineral hornblende, the most frequently encountered representative of the amphibolite group.

The typical Gföhler gneiss is a migmatitic or thogneiss, a metamorphic rock that is formed when granite is subjected to extreme conditions of pressure and temperature. The granite itself was formed thanks to a gradual cooling of acidic molten stone some 480 million years in the past.

Steinfeder ® Fruity charm and a stipulated maximum alcohol content of 11.5% by volume characterise the lightest style of top Vinea Wachau wines – the Steinfeder. The name itself refers to the typical Steinfeder grass (Stipa pennata), which grows near the vines in the Wachau’s terraced vineyards; it is light like a feather, and fragrant – just like the wine named af ter it. Federspiel ® This classic dr y wine is distinguished by a strong, nuance-rich character. Federspiel ® wines feature a must weight of at least 17° KMW and an alcohol content of between 11.5% and 12.5% by volume. The name Federspiel refers back to the times of falconr y, when this favourite form of noble hunting was practiced in the Wachau. Smaragd ® Smaragd is the designation for the best, most treasured wines from the Vinea Wachau’s members, with an alcohol content ranging from 12.5% by volume. The highest grade of ripeness coupled with natural concentration make this world-class designation possible. Emerald-coloured Idex lizards – also known as Smaragde – feel quite at home in the terraced vineyards of the Wachau. On bright summer days they bask in the gleaming sunshine next to the grapevines – becoming the per fect symbol for top Wachau wines with full physiological ripeness. Vinea Wachau – the regional protection organisation The Vinea Wachau (Vinea Wachau Nobilis Districtus) was founded in 1983 as an association of winegrowers in the Wachau, and monitors the provenance of wines produced by member estates in the district, classif ying these wines according to three categories of quality:

Steinfeder, Federspiel and Smaragd are registered trademarks of the Vinea Wachau.

Design and Photography, Monika Löff ∙ Geological Texts, Dr Walter Fitz ∙ English, James Oliver Wright

Design and Photography, Monika Löff ∙ Geological Texts, Dr Walter Fitz ∙ English, James Oliver Wright

The Rudi Pichler Estate Marienfeldweg 122 · A-3610 Wösendorf / Wachau, Austria T +43 2715 2267 · weingut@rudipichler.at · www.rudipichler.at

The Rudi Pichler Estate Marienfeldweg 122 · A-3610 Wösendorf / Wachau, Austria T +43 2715 2267 · weingut@rudipichler.at · www.rudipichler.at