Weingut Knoll has produced so many cult wines over the past few decades that a book could be filled with their tasting notes alone. Their St. Urban label also has cult status and has fortunately remained unchanged for decades. However, a lot has happened at the estate itself: In 2014, the new winery building was opened next to the main building, where customers and guests are now welcomed. Emmerich and Monika Knoll run the estate together with their sons Emmerich junior, who has also been chairman of Vinea Wachau since 2012, and August.
They cultivate around 18 hectares, a good third of which is terraced. Grüner Veltliner (45%) is grown on the Kreutles, Trum, Loibenberg and Schütt sites, and Riesling (45%) on the Loibenberg, Kellerberg, Pfaffenberg and Schütt sites. The 'Vinothekfüllung', a selection of the ripest grapes from different sites, is also made from both varieties, depending on the vintage. The range is complemented by Gelber Muskateller, Chardonnay, Gelber Traminer and Blauburgunder wines. Sweet wines ranging from Auslese to Trockenbeerenauslese are also produced in years with good botrytis. A positive practice at Knoll: The Smaragd and Prädikat wines are not produced until September so that they can mature and develop in the cool cellar over the summer. Knoll wines are considered late starters (which is not entirely true) and very long-lived (which is entirely true).
