What it pairs with
-
Braised veal with vegetables
Medium body and herbal-pepper notes are a natural match for braised veal. -
Fresh river fish
Classic Danube corridor pairing for a Wachau Grüner Veltliner. -
Warm potato and chive soup
The wine's herbal pepper character complements a potato soup.
How to serve Grüner Veltliner Smaragd
Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
- Serve at 8-10°C. Cellar temperature (8-10°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a smaller all-purpose white glass; the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Braised veal with vegetables, Fresh river fish, Warm potato and chive soup. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
The Leonhartsberger family runs a small Unterloiben estate alongside the more famous names of the Loiben cluster. The Smaragd Grüner Veltliner is the estate's main bottling.
- 1920 — Leonhartsberger family establishes the estate
- 2000 — Grüner Veltliner Smaragd first bottled under the current label
Facts
- Producer
- Winzerhof Leonhartsberger
- Grapes
- Grüner Veltliner
- Classification
- Wachau DAC
- Oak
- Stainless steel; no oak
- ABV
- 13.0%
- Price
- EUR 18-28 at retail
- Drinking window
- 3-10 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2000
Frequently asked about Grüner Veltliner Smaragd
When should I drink Grüner Veltliner Smaragd?
Drink 3-10 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?
Braised veal with vegetables is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Fresh river fish and Warm potato and chive soup. Medium body and herbal-pepper notes are a natural match for braised veal.
What grapes are in Grüner Veltliner Smaragd?
The blend is Grüner Veltliner. The wine is classified as Wachau DAC.