I’m always curious about diving in to new regions, so when my friend @jcerda82, a certified sommelier with a lot of knowledge, was tasting through Austria, I knew I had to do the same. For my first taste of Austria, I grabbed a bottle of 2016 Kremser Wachtberg Grüner Veltliner Kremstal DAC Reserve.

Wine growing in and around Krems can be traced back more than 2,000 years. Due to the mild climate, the quality of the soil, and the local wine growers’ hard work, Krems and the Wachau developed into Austria’s best wine growing regions.

Courtesy Winzer Krems

With origins tracing back to 1447, Winzer Krems is one of the most significant producers and the most successful exporter of estate bottled quality wine in Austria. The estate is owned by 962 winegrowers, who grow their grapes on 990 hectares in Krems and the surrounding wine growing regions.

Nearly the whole harvest is carried out by hand. The grapes are separated according to the variety, the different qualities, and the locations of origin. Once harvested, the grapes are brought as quickly as possible to the cellar. Every container of grapes is subjected to a strict quality control and only fully ripe grapes are fed to the press. The grapes are gently pressed to extract the juice in the whole cluster pressing. This process ensures that the quality produced in the vineyard is also maintained in the wine. The process is carried out in the same way as with the traditional old wooden press. The juice is then fed into stainless tanks and fermented in a temperature-controlled process. Every stage of maturation is constantly monitored and tested by experience oenologists and the winemaker. Even the bottles are subject to stringent controls.

The wine is light yellow with flecks of green. On the nose, I noticed green apple, honeysuckle, citrus, and minerality. On the palate, I noticed pear, lemon, pepper, and minerality. It was light, bright, and lovely. It had a nice finish. You can find it at Total Wine for $24.99. I paired it with baked salmon and a kale salad, followed by a guava and cheese Danish (oh, so Miami). 4.5/5. Looking forward to trying my next Austrian wine!