2020 Zillinger Velue Riesling

Region: Niederösterreich < Austria Grapes: Riesling Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Demeter certified biodynamic farming + certified organic farming; limestone/sandstone soils; most of the grapes (95%) are fermented and matured in stainless steel. The rest are destemmed and uncrushed grapes skin fermented in amphoras.  Bottled unfined/unfiltered with minimal added So2; 11.5% ABV; 415 cases Winemaker: Johannes Zillinger Johannes Zillinger learned early on from his father about the importance of organic winemaking, about viewing the vineyard as a habitat and protecting the environment instead of poisoning it. His father Hans turned to organic viticulture in 1983, two years before the Austrian Anti-freeze Scandal, and was one of its pioneers in Austria.  When Johannes took over the 350-year-old winery in 2013, he transitioned to biodynamic farming in a big way -- he even grows his own herbs for tea tinctures to use for vineyard treatments. "Velue" in the wine label doesn't mean value -- it is