Structure

Sweetnessdry
Oaknone or neutral

Drinking window

Best 8 to 20 years from vintage.
vintage8 yrs20 yrs22 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.

What it pairs with

  • Freshwater crab with herb cream
    Primary-rock mineral and racy acidity provide the perfect counterpoint to rich shellfish.
  • Zander (pike-perch) on the bone
    The wine's mineral tension and length are a classic pairing with Danube fish.
  • Oysters with lemon
    Racy acidity and mineral freshness are a natural partner to briny oysters.

How to serve Alzinger Riesling Smaragd Steinertal

Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
  2. Serve at 8-10°C. Cellar temperature (8-10°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a smaller all-purpose white glass; the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Freshwater crab with herb cream, Zander (pike-perch) on the bone, Oysters with lemon. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Leo Alzinger established his estate's reputation through rigorous single-vineyard viticulture, particularly the Steinertal Ried in Unterloiben. The estate name became known for primary-rock mineral precision in Wachau Riesling. Daughter Katharina Alzinger-Kittel now continues the tradition with the same philosophy.

  1. 1985: Leo Alzinger produces his first Steinertal Riesling Smaragd as a distinct single-Ried cuvée
  2. 2010: Katharina Alzinger-Kittel takes over winemaking, maintaining the estate's minimalist, site-expressive approach

Facts

Producer
Weingut Alzinger · visiting guide
Grapes
Riesling
Classification
Wachau DAC
Oak
Stainless steel; no oak
ABV
13.0%
Price
€55-80 at retail
Drinking window
8-20 from vintage
First vintage
1985

Frequently asked about Alzinger Riesling Smaragd Steinertal

When should I drink Alzinger Riesling Smaragd Steinertal?

Drink 8-20 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Alzinger Riesling Smaragd Steinertal?

Freshwater crab with herb cream is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Zander (pike-perch) on the bone and Oysters with lemon. Primary-rock mineral and racy acidity provide the perfect counterpoint to rich shellfish.

What grapes are in Alzinger Riesling Smaragd Steinertal?

The blend is Riesling. The wine is classified as Wachau DAC.

Tags

cellar worthy dry iconic medium body mood contemplative mood elegant occasion cellar occasion special old world pairs with oysters pairs with shellfish pairs with white fish price premium racy acid riesling single vineyard still white

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