Willi Bründlmayer

Generally considered Austria’s best winery, based on steadily outstanding wines across the entire range. Remarkable attention to detail for a large (by Skurnik's standards, of 60 hectares) winery. The wines are quite unlike any other, not in their actual flavors, but rather the way flavors are presented to the palate. They are, it might be said, the Stradivarius of wines, distinguishable (and made precious) by the beauty of their tones. Indeed, one could think in sonorous terms for Willi’s wines: “THE ACOUSTICS of the fruit are perfect,” Michael Skurnik wrote at one point. You taste class immediately. Stuart Pigott described them as “silky.” You'll find them either lovably impressive or impressively lovable or who knows? Both.

•Vineyard area: 60 hectares
•Annual production: 23,300 cases
•Top sites: Heiligenstein, Steinmassel, Berg-Vogelsang
•Soil types: Primary rock with mica slate, calcarous loam, gneiss desert sandstone with volcanic particles
•Grape varieties: 33% Grüner Veltliner, 25% Riesling, 15% Pinot Noir, 10% Chardonnay, 17% other varieties