Bottler: Nikolaihof Wachau, Nikolaigasse 3, 3512 Mautern / Austria
In the glass
Colour
Radiant golden yellow with delicate green reflections.
Nose
Intense notes of citrus, green apple and apricot, accompanied by lemon balm, sage, cool stone, subtly smoky hints and a touch of anise; in the decanter, the mineral nuances emerge even more clearly.
Palate
Juicy and dry with stimulating acidity, fine fruit sweetness in harmony and a piquant tannic note – great drinking pleasure at a moderate 12% ABV.
Character
A youthful, fresh Federspiel of crystalline clarity, standing right at the beginning of its development and promising good ageing potential.
Pairing
An ideal companion to Wiener Schnitzel, trout or Asian dishes with lemongrass and ginger.
Notes
The grapes grow on loess-loam and Danube gravel soils; fermentation takes place exclusively with indigenous yeasts, followed by six months of maturation in large, old wooden casks – the hallmark of the Demeter-certified Nikolaihof, the oldest biodynamic winery in the Wachau.
Tasting note
Colour & appearance
Radiant golden yellow with delicate green reflections – young, bright and promising.
Nose
Intense yet cool at the same time: citrus, green apple and apricot, accompanied by herbal notes of lemon balm and sage, plus a hint of anise. Cool stone and subtly smoky nuances join in – those who decant will be rewarded with considerably more minerality.
Palate
Juicy, precise and lively. Fruit sweetness and invigorating acidity find a rare harmony here, while a fine tannin note lends piquant grip. At 12% abv, the wine remains slender and inviting to drink – entirely in the style of an estate that has always prized elegance over extract.
Finish
Mineral, fresh and with a herbal aftertaste. The wine is at the beginning of its development and promises good ageing potential.
Terroir & origin
Pure Wachau. The grapes grow on loess-loam and Danube gravel soils. Nikolaihof itself is a place steeped in history: it stands on the foundations of the Roman fort of Favianis, dating back to 63 BC, and is considered Austria’s oldest wine estate. The “Im Weingebirge” vineyard site was first mentioned in official records as early as 470 AD.
Grape variety & vinification
Riesling, fermented with natural, grape-derived yeasts – without sugar, enzymes, flavour enhancers or cultured yeasts. Six months of maturation in large, old wooden casks, bottled on a fruit day. This is how the Saahs family has worked for generations; in 1971 the estate became Austria’s first Demeter-certified winery.
Food recommendations
A versatile food wine: trout meunière, Wiener Backhendl (Viennese fried chicken), asparagus with hollandaise sauce or Asian dishes featuring citrus and lemongrass. Even alongside a simple platter of bread and mountain cheese, it shows how beautifully juicy acidity balances salt and fat.
Special features
Behind this Federspiel stands an estate that has made patient wines great: its Vinothek Riesling 1995 was awarded 100 Parker points in 2014, making it the first Austrian wine to achieve this – after almost 20 years of cask ageing. The “Aus den Gärten” is the accessible side of this signature style: grown biodynamically, restrained in alcohol, crystal clear in expression – an introduction to one of the most idiosyncratic cellars on the Danube.
