Emmerich Knoll Gruner Veltliner Smaragd Ried Kreutles 2023
We have 5 in stock (Inventory is live and accurate)
Summer Shipping Advisory: Orders may be temporarily held during periods of extreme heat to ensure wine arrives in optimal condition.
View current shipping weather map →
The Land
Ried Kreutles sits near the village of Unterloiben, in the heart of Austria's Wachau along a dramatic bend of the Danube. This is a south-facing parcel low on the slope, where deep sandy loess, dropped by ancient winds, sits over gneiss eroded out of the Alps by glaciers. That combination of warm, well-drained loess and hard primary rock is ideal for Grüner Veltliner, and the continental Wachau climate, hot days and sharply cooler nights off the river, gives the fruit both ripeness and tension. The vines here average around 25 years, old enough to dig deep and carry real concentration.
The Wine
100% Grüner Veltliner at the Smaragd level, the ripest and most structured tier in the Vinea Wachau system, and always fully dry. Fermented with ambient yeasts and raised in a mix of large old oak casks and stainless steel in the traditional Wachau manner. Ripe yellow apple and pear, white pepper and green lentil spice, orchard-fruit depth, and a long, saline, gneiss-driven finish. Knoll's house style runs leaner and more precise than the plusher Pichler school of the valley, but a Kreutles Smaragd still carries genuine weight and richness underneath that cut. The 2023 vintage delivered healthy, ripe Grüner Veltliner with well-preserved acidity; late-October rains brought some botrytis pressure that Grüner, hardier than Riesling, largely shrugged off. Drink it now with air or cellar it for a decade.
The People
The Knoll family has farmed vineyards in Unterloiben since the early 1800s, and the estate now spans roughly 15 hectares across some of the Wachau's most storied sites. It is led by Emmerich Knoll, an outspoken champion of the region, and its wines are instantly recognizable by the baroque St. Urban label, named for the patron saint of winemakers. Knoll is a member of Vinea Wachau, the association that governs the Steinfeder, Federspiel, and Smaragd categories, and the family also runs the 400-year-old Loibnerhof restaurant nearby. The wines are made traditionally and built to age.
Food Pairing
Rich enough to anchor a real plate. Wiener schnitzel with lemon, roast pork belly with crackling, grilled halibut with brown butter and capers, or a creamy wild mushroom risotto. Grüner is also one of the few wines that genuinely loves asparagus and green vegetables. The white pepper bite and firm acidity keep everything fresh.
We ship wine to most states with a $100 minimum order for shipping. We don't ship spirits nor beer.
Weather shipping advisory: Orders placed during times of extreme heat or extreme cold will be held for no charge until more favorable weather returns.
The Wachau, widely considered Austria's premier wine region, is a breathtakingly beautiful valley along the Danube River, renowned for its powerful and dry expressions of both Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. These two grapes are the stars here, producing wines that are typically full-bodied and structured, yet always maintain a signature Austrian freshness. The Wachau is unique in its own ripeness scale to categorize its wines: Steinfeder, a rarely seen lighter style, Federspiel, representing a balanced ripeness with vibrant acidity, and Smaragd, indicating riper, more exotic fruit, sometimes with a touch of botrytis depending on the producer's style. This region, with its steep, terraced vineyards and unique microclimates, is home to a concentration of Austria's very best producers, crafting wines that are benchmarks for both Grüner Veltliner and Riesling globally.
Austria - Wachau
Grüner Veltliner is Austria's signature grape, producing distinctive dry white wines celebrated for their vibrant character. Primarily grown in regions like Wachau, Kremstal, and Kamptal, Grüner Veltliner is known for its high acidity and a compelling savory edge, often displaying notes of white pepper and spice alongside green and citrus fruit. The wines are typically medium-bodied and exceptionally food-friendly, offering a unique combination of freshness and complexity. Grüner Veltliner is a grape that is clearly expressive of its origins, and it is a cornerstone of Austrian winemaking excellence.
