Schmelz Riesling Smaragd Höhereck

What it pairs with

• Zander (pike-perch) in butter sauce
  Classic Wachau pairing: mineral Riesling with the Danube's signature freshwater fish.
• Fresh oysters
  Slate mineral and firm acidity are a textbook oyster pairing.
• Crab cakes with lemon mayo
  Citrus mineral notes complement the delicate crustacean in a fried format.

How to serve Schmelz Riesling Smaragd Höhereck

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. Zander (pike-perch) in butter sauce, Fresh oysters, Crab cakes with lemon mayo. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

The Schmelz family in Joching works the Höhereck terraces above Dürnstein. The Höhereck Riesling Smaragd is the estate's signature single-Ried bottling at Smaragd level (minimum 12.5% alcohol under the 1983 Vinea Wachau Codex).

1. 1988 — Höhereck Riesling Smaragd first produced as a single-Ried cuvée by the Schmelz estate

Facts

Producer

Weingut Schmelz

Grapes

Riesling

Classification

Wachau DAC

Oak

Stainless steel; no oak

ABV

13.0%

Price

€35-55 at retail

Drinking window

5-15 from vintage

First vintage

1988

Frequently asked about Schmelz Riesling Smaragd Höhereck

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