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From former Falstaff "Winemaker of the Year" and a Wine & Spirits Magazine "Top 100 Winery," this Austrian Riesling shows a phenomenal concentration of flavors. There is a weightiness on the palate, a richness held up by minerality and lively citrus notes. As the oldest winery in the Danube region of Austria, Schloss Gobelsburg has a history of winemaking dating back to the 12th century. The historic terraces of the Heiligenstein Vineyard offer sun exposure for ideal ripeness and sandstone soils for optimal drainage. Co-owner and winemaker Michael Moosbrugger showcases the terroir by gently guiding the wine from vine to bottle, rather than forcing it to meet expectations. This wine is made somewhere by someone. It is a wine of tradition, terroir, and elegance.

"The Zwettl Monastery was founded in 1074 and in 1171 the Monks of Zwettl were granted their first vineyards: Heiligenstein & Gaisberg - the oldest documented sites in the Kamptal. The estate and Castle Gobelsburg was controlled by as many as 19 different families between 1074 and 1740, and in 1786 absorbed the famous Kammern Winery and vineyards. Two hundred years later Eva and Michael Moosbrugger were granted the winemaking and viticulural contract in 1996, and with the help and guidance of Michael’s mentor Willi Brundlmayer, the winery has regained its prestige and considered to be a leader in quality and innovation. In 2006 Michael Moosbrugger was awarded as 'WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR' by the Austrian magazine Falstaff, the highest award given to an Austrian winemaker, and in 2009 and 2010 the estate was acknowledged as 'ONE OF THE TOP 100 WINERIES OF THE YEAR' by Wine & Spirits Magazine.

"Schloss Gobelsburg maintains a large number of parcels in Erste Lagen, or 1st Growth, vineyards in the Kamptal, including the mineral-rich, crystalline slopes of the Gaisberg and Heiligenstein planted to Riesling, and the deep loess soils of Renner, Grub, and Lamm planted to Gruner Veltliner. The winery continues to utilize organic winegrowing and has benefited from the fact that the monks of Zwettl Monastery began these practices as early as 1958.

"While many international cellars are attempting to produce clean, uniform wines, Moosbrugger is convinced that the future Gobelsburg lies in individuality and character. As a high level of technology is necessary to warrant uniformity, Moosbrugger believes that individuality can only be achieved through the reduction of machines. Moosbrugger developed the 'Dynamic Cellar Concept' for Gobelsburg in which wines are no longer pumped from one location to the other, but transported in 'barrels on wheels' from one section of the cellar to the other.

"A hallmark of the estate are the 'Tradition' bottlings of Gruner Veltliner and Riesling. Having read the meticulous notations of the Cistercians at the estate over the past 150 years, Michi pays homage in his role as cellar master, responsible for the 'education' of his 'pupils' - wine- while leading them through elevage; as opposed to acting as 'winemaker,' whose decisions in present day Austria are generally to preserve aromatics and fruit through extremely reductive methods.

"Vineyard area: 49 hectares
"Top sites: Heiligenstein, Gaisberg, Lamm, Renner
"Soil types: Volcanic sandstone, mica slate, and alpine gravel
"Grape varieties: 50% gruner veltliner, 30% riesling, 8% zweigelt, 12% pinot noir" - Distributor's Notes