The traditional winery "F.X. Pichler" is located in the municipality of Oberloiben in the Lower Austrian wine-growing region of Wachau. It is one of the best-known and most renowned wine addresses in Austria. The winery was founded in 1898 by Franz Pichler (*1908), who selected particularly small-grained, extract-rich Grüner Veltliner as early as 1928. From 1971 onwards, the winery was run by Franz Xaver Pichler (*1941), who is regarded as the "doyen" and absolute top oenologist in the Austrian white wine scene. Today it is run in the fifth family generation by son Lucas and his wife Johanna.
The vineyards cover 20 hectares in the Hollerin and Kellerberg vineyards (Dürnstein), as well as Frauenweingarten, Klostersatz, Loibenberg, Oberhauser and Steinertal (Loiben). They are planted with the white wine varieties Grüner Veltliner (50%), Riesling (48%) and Sauvignon Blanc (2%). The uncompromisingly practised quality criteria are strict yield limitation and careful hand-picking of only physiologically ripe and healthy grapes. Most of the wines are marketed under the name of the vineyard. In special years, small quantities of selections are produced under "M" (for "monumental"). Premium wines include, for example, Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Kellerberg, Riesling Smaragd Kellerberg and (which also refers to the "infinite" finish) Riesling Smaragd Unendlich. The winery is a member of Vinea Wachau Nobilis Districtus.
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