Emmeram is the bird of paradise in the Gut Oggau family. The son of Mechthild and Bertholdi and the brother of Joschuari and Timotheus, he is a globetrotter whose fascinating personality has a phenomenal effect on people. Charming and open, affectionate and gentle, yet always with hidden qualities that make him even more interesting. Whenever Emmeram is present, Eduard and Stephanie note, he delights with his dry humour and open-hearted outlook. He never likes to be pinned down, yet brings something unique and irreplaceable to the table every time.

The wine earns every note of that description. Emmeram is one of the few single-varietal wines from Gut Oggau, a 100% Gewürztraminer from 40-year-old vines growing on limestone and sand, yielding just one to two tons per hectare. While almost every other plot at the estate is field-blended, this one stands alone, expressing a grape that carries one of the most recognisable aromatic signatures in the wine world. Before pressing, the grapes are macerated on their skins for only a few hours, as any longer and Emmeram would become too dominant and overwhelming. This brief contact is just enough to amplify the aromatic power and add a textural note without tipping the wine into skin-contact territory. Spontaneous fermentation follows in used 500-litre barrels, with twelve months of élevage without batonnage, no fining, no filtration and zero sulphur added.

The nose offers lychee, rose petal and citrus zest, followed by tropical fruits and candied orange peel, with subtle hints of spices and herbs and a bright acidity that pulls everything together. On the palate the wine reveals more exotic notes of apricot, pear and a savoury mineral undercurrent that keeps the whole thing grounded and dry despite the abundance of perfume. It is simultaneously one of the most expressive and one of the most restrained Gewürztraminers you will encounter. Emmeram ages gracefully, gaining in complexity what it gradually loses in primary floral exuberance. Any vintage is worth cellaring for several years, and every vintage is worth opening without hesitation.