An area brand category of the Lower Austrian wine association Vinea Wachau Nobilis Districtus for dry white wines. Altogether there are the three quality levels Steinfeder, Federspiel and (as the highest) Smaragd. On the steep stone terraces of the Wachau wine-growing region, the emerald lizard pictured below, from which the name is derived, likes to bask in the sun in the vineyards. By the way, until the 1986 vintage, the name was Honifogl, and then had to be changed for legal reasons.
This category includes the most valuable and ripe white wines from the best sites, which are only pressed in the best years from grapes with perfect physiological ripeness. A minimum must weight of 18.5 °KMW and at least 12.5% vol. alcohol content are required. From the 2006 vintage onwards, alternative closures (twist or glass closure) were also permitted, until then natural corks were mandatory.
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Thomas Götz
Weinberater, Weinblogger und Journalist; Schwendi