Markus Huber Riesling Terrassen
Pairs with: Crispy Thai-style duck with a sweet-and-sour glaze, spicy Vietnamese lemongrass chicken, fresh sushi or yellowtail sashimi, grilled trout with lime-herb butter, or a vibrant goat cheese salad topped with fresh herbs.
Good for: Shaking up your crisp white wine rotation with a laser-focused alternative to Sauvignon Blanc, pairing effortlessly with tricky-to-match spicy Asian takeout, or introducing an Old World wine lover to the spectacular, high-tension mineral style of Austria’s hidden valleys.
Grape: 100% Riesling (Certified Organic).
I am from: Traisental DAC, Niederösterreich, Austria (Sourced from steep, terraced vineyards rooted in ancient limestone and conglomerate soils).
The Story: Markus Huber is the undisputed superstar and modern champion of the Traisental, Austria's smallest and youngest official wine valley. Taking the reins of his family’s historic estate in 2000—a property with viticultural roots dating back more than 250 years—Markus single-handedly transformed a traditional, boutique farm into a globally admired model of sustainable excellence. In fact, his unwavering commitment to the environment earned the winery a prestigious "Sustainable Austria" certification alongside its rigorous organic status.
The secret to this bottling lies in its name: "Terrassen" (Terraces). The Traisental region is defined by precipitous, vertigo-inducing hillside vineyards carved directly into ancient geological formations of lime-rich conglomerate stone and chalky gravel. These unforgiving soils force the Riesling vines to struggle, driving their roots deep into the rock for moisture and naturally packing the grapes with an intense, Chablis-like mineral signature. To capture this distinct regional snapshot, Markus blends fruit from several of these steep terraced plots. In the cellar, the grapes are handled with minimal intervention and fermented entirely in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. Completely bypassing oak, this pure, un-wooded style ensures that the crisp mountain air and raw voice of the limestone stone arrive in your glass with absolute, crystal-clear transparency.
Why You'll Love Me: It is extraordinarily bright, taut, and mouthwatering—a bone-dry Riesling that executes a thrilling high-wire act between succulent stone fruits and a striking, electric mineral energy. In the glass, it pours a pale, shimmering greenish-yellow with a bright silver sheen. The nose is beautifully expressive and pure, instantly greeting you with a fragrant bouquet of ripe vineyard peaches, green apples, and fresh lime zest, seamlessly layered with delicate undertones of wild spring blossoms, lemon balm, and a cool, smoky hint of wet flint. On the palate, it delivers a spectacular burst of energy. A racy, lip-smacking line of mountain acidity cuts cleanly through the fruit, lending the medium-bodied frame a remarkably focused, athletic drive. Layers of tart orchard fruit and juicy citrus oils dance effortlessly across the tongue before pulling into a long, beautifully dry finish highlighted by a mouthwatering saline snap and a lingering chalky texture.
