Weingut Emmerich Knoll

Unterloiben

The unmistakable label depicts Saint Urban, the patron saint of vineyards and winemakers, bear the name Weingut Knoll (pronounced with a K) since the beginnings of the estate around the 1950s. Third-generation Emmerich Knoll III now leads this estate. It is without a doubt, one of the very best in Austria. Situated in the village of Unterloiben, Emmerich farms 15ha of vineyards, some of which steep and on terraces. Soils vary in certain spots, but in general, gravelly soils with gneiss and other ancient igneous & metamorphic bedrock formations (for Riesling), and soils of loess mixed with river sand & alluvium (for Gruner Veltliner). The majority of plantings are of Gruner Veltliner & Riesling, but also small plantings of Chardonnay, Gelber Traminer, Pinot Noir etc., are found. In the cellar, the emphasis is to make sure varietal site expression is at the forefront. Wines are fermented in stainless steel, then transferred to old oak foudres for maturation for on average 6-10 months. Emmerich is also a member of the Vinea Wachau Nobilis Districtus and follows its strict quality control rules. The wines are exceptional: clear, precise, mineral-rich and reveal full potential after years. One may even be rewarded, with patience over decades.