About the Wine

There are no secrets to the production of Kracher’s unparalleled range of remarkable sweet wines. For three generations the Kracher family has led the way in the Seewinkel, that corner (Winkel) of Austria to the east of Lake Neusiedl, just an hour’s drive from Vienna. It was Alois Kracher Senior, back in the ‘50s and ‘60s who first realized the potential of the area for quality wine growing. Then in 1991, Alois Junior (Luis) set the world on fire with his ‘new’ style of dessert wine, focusing on finesse and balance in addition to just outright sweetness. From there he went on to win the British Wine Journal’s ‘Winemaker of the Year’ title 5 times, before his untimely passing in 2007.

“Luis” Kracher was one of the greatest visionaries in winemaking and was a driving force behind the “Austrian wine wonder” during the 1990s and a motor behind the renaissance of noble sweet wines. The whole wine world mourned the premature death of Luis, who – as a trained chemist – began his winemaking career at his father’s estate aged twenty-two years old.

He created a new style of dessert wine, in which the fruit character, finesse, and balance of the wine were far more important than just mere sweetness. The 1991 vintage brought Kracher his first international acclaim, and shortly afterward, his name would become synonymous with cult sweet wines, especially in America. 

The dessert wines from Kracher are now widely considered some of the finest "Stickies" or sweet wines in the world. In fact, the Kracher wines have bested the noble (and much, much more expensive) Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes in numerous blind tastings. These wines are bright fresh and a true celebration to drink and enjoy. Kracher sweet wines are also incredibly interesting and delicious to drink following extended aging; they are built to last generations.

Aging: 90% fermented and aged in stainless steel tans and 10% in big cask, 28 months aging time.

Tasting notes: 60% Welschriesling, 40% Chardonnay.
See Critical Reviews for detailed tasting notes.

Reviews

Super-ripe citrus and mango aromas with notes of candied ginger and floral honey. Rich and concentrated, with wonderful vitality and a salty note that greatly accentuates the citrusy acidity at the very long finish. A cuvee of chardonnay and welschriesling that was matured 85% in steel tanks and 15% neutral wood. ~95 James Suckling

Strong golden yellow, silver reflections. Spicy botrytis tone, delicate dry fruit sound, a touch of honey and candied orange zest, fine wood spice. Complex, full-bodied, a touch of nougat, mineral, fine tropical fruit in the aftertaste, salty and persistent, good aging potential. ~94 Falstaff

Based on 60% Welschriesling and 40% Chardonnay, the golden-orange 2019 Beerenauslese Cuvée opens with ripe and stewed peach as well as chutney aromas with blood orange, ginger and mustard seed. On the palate, this is a rich and intense but tensioned, stimulating and saline wine that leaves a long, intense and aromatic finish with bitters. ~93 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Very thick and expressive with golden raisin and molasses notes, followed by peach jam, mineral and spice flavors. There is beautiful acidity keeping it all together, giving this a promising future. ~91 Wine Enthusiast

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