Structure

Bodymedium
Tanninlow
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Oaknone or neutral

Drinking window

Best 3 to 12 years from vintage.
vintage3 yrs12 yrs14 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.

In the glass

Medium-bodiedLow tanninHigh acidityDryClean Peppery finish

Aroma: white pepper, old-vine concentration, ripe pear, citrus

Palate: apple flesh, pepper spice, mineral, lemon zest

Grüner Veltliner Smaragd from old-vine St. Michael parcels by Weingut Erich Bayer; classic white pepper and concentrated pear character.

What it pairs with

  • Grilled chicken drumsticks with herb oil
    The wine's pepper-herb notes and medium body are a classic Austrian match for grilled poultry.
  • Pasta with cream, ham and peas
    Medium body and acidity cut through the cream while herbal notes complement peas.
  • Grilled Danube zander
    Classic Wachau freshwater fish pairs naturally with a Grüner Veltliner Smaragd.

How to serve Grüner Veltliner Smaragd St. Michael

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. Grilled chicken drumsticks with herb oil, Pasta with cream, ham and peas, Grilled Danube zander. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Erich Bayer and his son Arnold farm 7 hectares in St. Michael and Weissenkirchen since the family took full control of the estate in 2005. Old-vine parcels in St. Michael are the source of their Smaragd Grüner.

  1. 1848: Bayer family begins viticulture in St. Michael
  2. 1997: Grüner Veltliner Smaragd St. Michael first bottled

Facts

Producer
Weingut Erich Bayer · visiting guide
Grapes
Grüner Veltliner
Classification
Wachau DAC
Oak
Stainless steel; no oak
ABV
13.5%
Price
EUR 20-32 at retail
Drinking window
3-12 from vintage
First vintage
1997

Frequently asked about Grüner Veltliner Smaragd St. Michael

What does Grüner Veltliner Smaragd St. Michael taste like?

On the nose, white pepper, old-vine concentration, ripe pear, citrus. On the palate, apple flesh, pepper spice, mineral, lemon zest. Structurally medium-bodied, low tannins, high acidity with a clean peppery finish. Grüner Veltliner Smaragd from old-vine St. Michael parcels by Weingut Erich Bayer; classic white pepper and concentrated pear character.

When should I drink Grüner Veltliner Smaragd St. Michael?

Drink 3-12 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Grüner Veltliner Smaragd St. Michael?

Grilled chicken drumsticks with herb oil is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Pasta with cream, ham and peas and Grilled Danube zander. The wine's pepper-herb notes and medium body are a classic Austrian match for grilled poultry.

What grapes are in Grüner Veltliner Smaragd St. Michael?

The blend is Grüner Veltliner. The wine is classified as Wachau DAC.

Tags

dry gr ner veltliner high acid medium body medium term mood easygoing mood savoury occasion dinner party occasion weeknight old vines old world pairs with pasta cream pairs with poultry pairs with white fish price trade up still white

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