Tasting with the winemakers of Donauterrassen in the Wagram region today. This bottle of 1979 Roter Veltliner Ried “Reisenthal” from Mantlerhof is my wine of the day. No spelling mistake – It´s a “Roter (red) Veltliner”, not a “Grüner Veltliner”.
The vintners of the Rote Veltliner Community Donauterassen has invited to taste an exciting portfolio of this rare grape variety.
Roter Veltliner is an old Austrian grape variety which is part of the Veltliner family. The grape variety thrives best on deeper soils such as the Loam and loess soils of the Wagram where it has its home today – together with Kamptal and Kremstal. It is a scarce grape variety in our time – just 220 ha are planted in Austria with Roter Veltliner.
Their yields can be high, so their growth has to be managed very well.
Well handled, the wines show a beautiful spiciness in their youth. They can age very well as the 1979 wine from Mantlerhof has shown: Golden colour, crisp, dry style. Lime, herbs, wax and quince on the nose and palate. The wine is focused and elegant with a lovely tangy, smokey finish.
The recent vintages of Roter Veltliner are worth a try. Keep an eye on producers such as Mantlerhof, Schabl, Söllner, Fritsch, Obenaus – and Familie Bauer. Their Roter Veltliner Ried “Hinterberg” is just lovely. I tasted the 2012, 2017 and 2018 vintages with pleasure.
