Smaragd

Smaragd is the highest quality classification for dry white wines in Austria’s Wachau region, denoting powerful, age-worthy wines with a minimum alcohol level of 12.5%. Named after the emerald lizards that bask in the sun-drenched terraced vineyards along the Danube, Smaragd wines are typically made from Grüner Veltliner or Riesling grown on steep, rocky slopes. These wines combine richness and ripeness with remarkable tension and minerality, often showing layered stone fruit, spice, and a firm, structured palate. While accessible in youth, the best examples—especially from producers like F.X. Pichler, Knoll, and Alzinger—reward extended cellaring.