Kuen Hof/Peter Pliger

At between 600-700 mts, the Pligers farm some of the highest vineyards in mainland Europe. Their part of the Alto Adige, which used to be Austrian is largely composed of quartz and shale crushed by glacial movement and provides a fantastic mineral base for their vines. Peter Pliger farms organically with a lot of biodynamic techniques also employed and this is deliberately to assist the production of delicate but intensely mineral wines. Silvaner is a fuller bodied Riesling cross and Veltliner is better known with a Gruner prefix. Both varieties respond very well both to these natural farming methods and to the minimal cellar handling they get. Fermentation is cool and they are matured in large, old barrels, most holding 1,500 litres. If you have never tasted Kuen Hof then this estate is a must try. (CW 23/06/16)