Ried Grassnitzberg Riff Sauvignon Blanc Erste STK Lage 2021 3000ml Doppel-Magnum

Wine Description for Ried Grassnitzberg Riff Sauvignon Blanc Erste STK Lage 2021 3000ml Double Magnum by Tement

Character

The Grassnitzberg Riff represents the absolute pinnacle of South Styrian Sauvignon Blanc culture. As an Erste STK Lage – the Austrian equivalent of Grand Cru classification – this wine embodies the uncompromising quality philosophy of the Tement estate. The bottling in Double Magnum underscores not only the wine’s ageing potential but also the seriousness of this vintage. With 13% alcohol, it displays a perfect balance between ripeness and elegance, without drifting into opulence.

Terroir & Origin

The Ried Grassnitzberg ranks among the legendary vineyard sites of South Styria. The steep hillside vineyards with their calcareous Opok soils – a sedimentary rock formed from weathered marl – decisively shape the mineral character of South Styrian Sauvignon Blancs. The Pannonian climate with warm days and cool nights enables a long growing season that unites complexity and freshness in rare harmony. Tement manages this premium vineyard site with utmost care and low yields.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Sauvignon Blanc finds ideal conditions in South Styria and develops a distinctive profile here that differs markedly from the Loire or New Zealand. Tement, under the leadership of Armin and Stephan Tement, relies on spontaneous fermentation and ageing on fine lees, which imparts additional texture and longevity to the wines. The estate’s philosophy combines Burgundian precision with Styrian authenticity – wines that impress not through loudness but through finesse and depth.

Food Pairing Recommendations

A wine of this calibre demands culinary partners of equal standing: scallops with herb butter, turbot or Dover sole in classical preparation, pike-perch with saffron sauce. It also harmonises beautifully with asparagus in all its variations, goat’s cheese of medium maturity, or a refined vegetable terrine. The structure and minerality also complement spicier dishes such as Thai curries or sushi with wasabi.