2024 Alzinger Durnstein Federspiel Gruner Veltliner, Wachau

Light yellow-green, silver reflections. Fresh apple fruit with a hint of lime, delicate notes of meadow herbs, mineral touch. Complex, juicy, fine pome fruit nuances, finely structured, fruity style, delicate blossom honey on the finish.

92 points Falstaff

Alzinger is one of the Wachau's most admired family estates, renowned for producing wines of precision, purity and remarkable site expression. Based in the picturesque village of Dürnstein, the Alzinger family has spent generations cultivating some of the region's finest terraced vineyards overlooking the Danube. Their meticulous approach in both vineyard and cellar has earned a loyal following among lovers of Austria's great white wines, particularly Grüner Veltliner and Riesling.

The Dürnstein Federspiel Grüner Veltliner captures the freshness and elegance that define the Federspiel classification. The Wachau's steep stone terraces, ancient gneiss soils and cool river influences create ideal conditions for preserving aromatics and acidity while developing layered fruit flavours. The 2024 vintage delivered fruit of exceptional purity, resulting in a wine that is vibrant, detailed and unmistakably Wachau.

Pale straw with bright green highlights, the bouquet reveals aromas of green apple, white peach and citrus blossom intertwined with Grüner's hallmark notes of white pepper, fresh herbs and crushed stone. The palate is lively and beautifully focused, offering flavours of lime, pear and nectarine supported by crisp acidity and a fine mineral backbone. A subtle savoury edge adds complexity, while the finish is long, dry and refreshingly precise.

This is a brilliant food wine, pairing beautifully with grilled prawns, Wiener schnitzel, asparagus dishes, seafood risotto, sushi or a spring vegetable tart. Equally enjoyable as an aperitif, it showcases the energy, freshness and versatility that have made Grüner Veltliner Austria's signature white grape.