Region of production: Wachau
Winery Location: Unterloiben
Year Established: Alzinger has been producing grapes for three generations, though they sold their grapes to co-ops until 1980, when Leo Alzinger founded the winery. In 1986, Alzinger stopped selling grapes and focused entirely on estate production.

Vineyard Holdings

11 ha

  • 55% planted to Grüner Veltliner
  • 40% to Riesling
  • 5% to Chardonnay
  • Loibenberg: 1.5 ha; steep terraces
  • Steinertal: 5.5 ha; cooler microclimate; the un-terraced, lower part of Steinertal goes by Muhlpoint
  • Liebenberg: 0.5 ha
  • Durnsteiner
  • Hollerin

Top Wines Produced

  • Frauenweingarten Grüner Veltliner Federspiel
  • Loibenberg Grüner Veltliner Smaragd
  • Muhlpoint Grüner Veltliner Federspiel 
  • Muhlpoint Grüner Veltliner Smaragd
  • Steinertal Grüner Veltliner Smaragd
  • Durnsteiner Riesling Federspiel
  • Hollerin Riesling Smaragd
  • Liebenberg Riesling Smaragd
  • Loibenberg Riesling Smaragd
  • Steinertal Riesling Smaragd

Inaugural Vintages

  • 1985 for Loibenberg
  • 1991 for Steinertal

Average Total Production

  • 60,000 – 72,000 bottles

Summary

Leo Alzinger Jr. trained at the college of Klosterneuburg and is now helping his father, Leo Sr., in the vineyards and winery. The estate started with four hectares and has now grown to 11 ha. Riesling is cultivated on the higher, rockier parcels, and Grüner Veltliner is cultivated on the lower loess-based parcels.


Style & Vinification Techniques

Leo Junior and Senior believe in harvesting their old vines later than their neighbors in order to push physiological ripeness, yet they still pick pristine (non-botrytized) fruit. They employ whole-cluster fermentation with short skin maceration.

Producer Website: Alzinger