Description
Franz Hirtzberger is considered a leading figure in the Wachau region of Austria and has contributed more than anyone to the global recognition of Wachau and Austrian wine. The family vineyards are located next to the banks of the Danube and, due to the very steep slopes, are cultivated on small terraces, offering wines with characteristic minerality, intensity and finesse. The show is stolen by the Singerriedel vineyard, which is located directly behind the 13th century winery-house, with an ideal south-southeast orientation, considered one of the most exciting Riesling vineyards in the world. The vineyard on the lower side of the Singerriedel is called Honigvogl and is planted with Grüner Veltliner, giving top samples of the variety.
At the heart of the Hirtzberger family philosophy are work in the vineyard, respect for nature and an outstanding understanding of climatic and geological conditions. Franz Hirtzberger took over the family winery from his father in 1983. The uniqueness, focus and balance of the wines are multifactorial: very small yields, excellent grape quality, technical excellence in winemaking, excellent know-how in the press, slow, spontaneous fermentations and the release of the wines one year after fermentation. The family vineyards are located in the town of Spitz, in one of the coldest areas of the Wachau, on its western edge. The varietal composition of the vineyards is 60% Grüner Veltliner, 35% Riesling and the remaining 5% various white varieties. The top category Smaragd requires 4-6 years after the harvest to start showing the true potential of the wines, while many of the wines remain fresh and exciting even after a decade. The obsession with quality, respect for the vineyards and terroir, ideal winemaking and long tradition give the bottles a touch of magic and place the family’s wines among the top white wines in the world.
English