Grüner Veltliner – Austria’s Signature White Wine
Grüner Veltliner is Austria's leading white grape variety. It accounts for over a third of the country's entire vineyard area.
Introduction
Grüner Veltliner is a variety of grape grown primarily in Austria.
The variety also grows in a few other countries, such as Hungary, the Czech Republic and most recently the United States but is most closely associated with Austria, where it has been cultivated since Roman times.
Its name literally translates as the “green grape from the village of Veltlin in the Tirol.”
According to recent DNA analysis, Traminer is known to be one parent of Grüner Veltliner. However, researchers have been unable to determine other varieties.
The areas where Grüner Veltliner is most widely planted are located in the state of Niederösterreich, or Lower Austria. The grape is also common in northern Burgenland and around Vienna. In Lower Austria´s Weinviertel, the largest wine growing region in Austria, Grüner Veltliner has been elevated from a wine showing regional typicity
to that of a DAC appellation wine.
Grüner Veltliner is an incredibly versatile grape that can be made into a wide range of wine styles from very light and refreshing summer sippers to lusciously rich sweet wines.
History
While it is said that even the Romans drank Grüner Veltliner, the name of this variety has only been known since the mid-19th century. Prior to this time, it was referred to as Grüner Muskateller, although there is no relation to the Muskateller variety.
Until the 1950′s, it was regarded as just another Austrian grape. It wasn’t until the development of the Lenz Moser Hochkultur method or “high training system of the vine”, that Grüner Veltliner began to emerge into its own right.
Since the antifreeze scandal of 1985, Grüner Veltliner has been at the forefront of the switch in producing high-quality wines in Austria.
Taste Profile
Gruner Veltliner is known for its spicy, smoky character with a distinctive white pepper bouquet. Wines from this grape are typically dry with high acidity and are most often drunk young. It is generally light to medium bodied but can be made in richer, full-bodied styles. The wines of Gruner Veltliner are extremely versatile with food especially lighter summer fare.
Wineries
The following are a list of wineries that produce Grüner Veltliner in Austria.
Alzinger
http://www.alzinger.at
Jurtschitsch
http://www.jurtschitsch.com
Prager
http://www.weingutprager.at
Salmon
http://www.salomonwines.com
Further Information
More more information regarding Grüner Veltliner or Austria’s wine regions, visit these websites below.
Austria Wine Marketing Board
http://www.winesfromaustria.com
Niederösterreich Tourism
http://www.niederoesterreich.at
Related posts:
- Austria’s Wine Regions
- Austrian Wine Seminar at London International Wine Fair
- Riesling – Germany’s Famous White Wine
- Interview with Wine Importer Circo Vino
- Austria Uncorked: Wine Sampling Event
Category: Wine
Hya, fine article indeed.
Wanted to add just one thing. Only 2009 another parent grape variety of the Grüner Veltliner was discovered. It’s the “St. Georgener” – found close to Eisenstadt, the capital of Burgenland.
I also wrote a short article on the Grooner 0> http://burg.cx/pages/geschichte-gruner-veltliner – it’s in German though.
Cheers Thomas
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Hi Thomas,
That’s really interesting. I didn’t know about St. Georgener. Thanks for sharing!
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