Franz Prager, co-founder of the Vinea Wachau, had already earned a reputation for his wines when Toni Bodenstein married into the family. Bodenstein’s passion for biodiversity and old terraces, coupled with brilliant winemaking, places Prager in the highest echelon of Austrian producers.
Smaragd is a designation of ripeness for dry wines used exclusively by members of the Vinea Wachau. The wines must have minimum alcohol of 12.5%. The grapes are hand-harvested, typically in October and November, and are sent directly to press where they spontaneously ferment in stainless-steel tanks.
Klaus sits adjacent to Achleiten and is one of the Wachau’s most famous vineyards for Riesling. The vineyard is incredibly steep with a gradient of 77% at its steepest point. The southeast-facing terraced vineyard of dark migmatite-amphibolite and paragneiss produces a tightly wound and powerful wine. The parcel belonging to Toni Bodenstein was planted in 1952.
Tasting Notes:
Austrian Riesling is often defined by elevated levels of dry extract thanks to a lengthy ripening period and freshness due to dramatic temperature swings between day and night. “Klaus is not a charming Riesling,” says Toni Bodenstein with a wink. Klaus is Prager’s most assertive and robust Riesling.
Food Pairing
Riesling’s high acidity makes it one of the most versatile wines at the table. Riesling can be used to cut the fattiness of foods such as pork or sausages and can tame some saltiness. Conversely, it can highlight foods such as fish or vegetables in the same way a squeeze of lemon or a vinaigrette might.
Review:
Superbly cool, restrained and refined, this austere, beautiful dry riesling is a slow-burn masterpiece that's only just beginning to reveal its complex white-peach, white-tea, wild-herb and dark-berry character. Super-long and mineral finish. Drink or hold.
-James Suckling 97 Points
THREADCOUNT A BOLD QUILT CABERNET SAUVIGNON
California is a winemaker's playground, home to an incredible range of vineyard sites—from fog-kissed coastal hills to sun-drenched valleys. But as prestige regions have risen to fame, so have their price tags, leaving wine lovers to choose between splurging or settling. With THREADCOUNT, we believe world-class Cabernet should be an everyday luxury.
That's why we created THREADCOUNT California Cabernet—a wine that captures the richness, diversity, and spirit of California at a price that over delivers. Sourced from a curated blend of the state's most renowned AVAs, this Cabernet unites coastal freshness with inland ripeness for a balanced, fruit-forward, and deeply satisfying expression.
As a cornerstone of our portfolio, THREADCOUNT California Cabernet stands on its own while also serving as a gateway to our Napa Valley Quilt collection. Whether you're new to Cabernet or a longtime fan, this wine delivers bold flavor, smooth structure, and the unmistakable character of California in every glass.
This inaugural Cabernet is meticulously handcrafted by Joe Wagner, a fifth-generation Napa Valley winemaker with an unwavering passion for farming grapes and producing luxury wines. Joe embarked on his wine journey in 2001 at the age of nineteen. His enthusiasm and innate winemaking talent became evident swiftly when he established his acclaimed single vineyard Pinot Noir label, Belle Glos. Joe later introduced Napa Valley Quilt, which rapidly ascended to the ranks of top 10 luxury wines in just five vintages. THREADCOUNT serves as an extension of the Quilt winemaking style, adapted for more laid-back occasions.
WINEMAKER NOTES
We produce Cabernet from a myriad of California's most renowned regions to make this one-of-a-kind, highly versatile and prestigious varietal. After de-stemming the berries, the grapes are cryo-extracted, followed by a brief cold soak to soften the skins and finally led into a chilled fermentation to maximize extraction over a long period, often 60 days on skins. During fermentation, punch-downs and pump-over techniques were performed in a combination of closed and open-top stainless-steel fermenters in order to extract every bit of color and tannin mother nature gave us. The wines are aged in 50% new French oak for between 12-16 months. After the wine underwent malolactic fermentation, it was racked every 6 months before the final blend was complete. This Cabernet is intended to be a full-force expression on the palate, with abundant forward fruit, spice, and breadth —making it a perfect match for hearty meals or a quiet evening by the fire.
TASTING NOTES
COLOR: Dark ruby red. AROMA: Complex aromas of black cherry, wild raspberry, plum and toasty oak. PALATE: Rich and full-bodied, with dark berry fruit, toasty oak, smooth tannins, and a finish that lingers just long enough to make you want another sip. Beautifully rounded with an elegantly smooth finish accompanied by smooth tannins. Crafted for immediate enjoyment, but structured enough to age gracefully over a few years.
FOOD PAIRING: Pepper crusted pork chop and fingerling potatoes, lamb skewers or a pan seared chicken.