Franz Hirtzberger

Grüner Veltliner Rotes Tor Federspiel

The Hirtzberger family purchased its first vineyards in the village of Spitz in the late 1800s. The winery is situated at the western end of the Wachau - the part that's coolest and closest to the mountains. The terraced Singerriedel vineyard has brought the family near legendary status for its Riesling, while the Honivogl has done the same with Grüner Veltliner. Such sites, allied to an approach that’s simple in the extreme, lend the wines an often astonishing transparency and complexity.

According to myth the Rote Tor (red gate) is part of the old town wall which was saturated with blood, during the Swedish Wars. We grow GV grapes in the vineyards below, in both quality levels - Federspiel and Smaragd. 

Upfront and fragant notes of white florals, ripe citrus and ginger. The wine tastes of summer, with tropical fruits, citrus with a light nuttiness. It's slippery, yet textural.