Markus Huber is one of Austria’s leading young winemakers and was recently named “Falstaff Winemaker of the Year” at the awards ceremony that is considered to be the Oscars of the Austrian wine industry. His eponymous winery is set in the Traisental Valley, Austria’s smallest winegrowing region which is famous for its full-bodied Gruner Veltliner and Riesling wines.
Markus’ Berg Gruner Veltliner is an “Erste Lage” or “first-class site” wine, the classification which is given to selected vineyards in recognition of their exceptional terroir. This particular vineyard is planted on terraces on a very steep slope with a 25% gradient. The soil here has very little organic matter, forcing the vines to struggle to get enough nutrients which helps to produce very concentrated and aromatic grapes.
After harvest these grapes are carefully transported to the winery and fermented in stainless steel tanks. The wine is then aged in acacia wood barrels for 8 months on the lees, a process which helps to add more body and a creamy texture. The result is an intense, full-bodied Gruner with plenty of the classic spicy varietal character along with hints of bright citrus and stone fruit. The bold flavour profile makes it a great white to pair with tricky ingredients like asparagus as well as spicy Asian curries and salads.