grüner veltliner users guide

Grüner Veltliner

A Users’ Guide To The Iconic Austrian Wine

Austrian Wines Direct www.austrian-wines-direct.co.uk @AustrianWines


Grüner Veltliner

Name comes from Grüner, meaning green, and the area of Veltlin (Vatellina) in Northern Italy. However, the grape variety is not actually grown there.


Known Aliases Include

• Weissgipfler• Manhardsrebe• Grüner Muskateller


Unrelated to....• Grüner Veltliner has been proven by DNA profiling to be unrelated to other grape varieties that include “Veltliner” in their name such as Roter Veltliner, Brauner Veltliner or Frühroter Veltliner


Most Widely Grown Grape Variety in Austria

• Grüner Veltliner accounts for approximately one half of white wine production and one third of all wine production in Austria.


Almost Ubiquitous in

Austria• Grown widely across all quality wine growing regions of Austria with the exception of Steiermark.


Amazingly Food-Friendly

• Widely regarded as the most food-friendly wine in the world.• Can accompany anything from

beef to seafood.• Superb with “difficult to

match” dishes including Asian food, asparagus


Rise to FameThree important factors account for the high quality and international standing of Austrian Grüner Veltliner today

• In the 1950s Lenz Moser high training system improved frost protection, exposure to sunlight and ease of production.

• Post 1985 reforms in Austrian wine law encouraged the production of high quality wine.

• In a 2002 blind tasting organised by leading Masters of Wine Austrian Grüner Veltliner beat highly prized Grand Cru Chardonnays.


History• Dates from at least the time of

the ancient Romans.• Hybrid variety from a cross

between Traminer and a recently rediscovered and almost extinct variety now named St. Georgener-Rebe (after the village where it was rediscovered.)


Flexible and Variable

• Grüner Veltliner can be drunk in a variety of styles–Young in bars that specialise in

serving new wine–Sparkling wine or Sekt–Mature – many of the best

examples are capable of long aging


Distribution• Indigenous to Austria which

remains by far the most important producer of Grüner Veltliner• Also grown in Czech Republic,

Slovakia, Slovenia, New Zealand, Australia and the United States


Regional Characteristics

• Each district producing Grüner Veltliner has its own characteristics, predominant soil types and microclimates


Grüner Veltliner DAC

• Pioneered in Weinviertel district in 2003• Five of the sixteen quality wine

producing areas in Austria now produce their own version of Grüner Veltliner DAC

• Kamptal• Kremstal• Leithaberg (Neusiedlersee-Hügelland)• Traisental• Weinviertel


Kamptal DistrictWarm days and cool nights as the grapes mature combine to give a perfect climate for startlingly good Grüner Veltliner. Soils ranging from deep loess to loam to primary rock add variety.

• DAC requirements– Classic: fruit-driven aromas, gentle spice, no

botrytis notes and no oak notes.1

– Reserve: opulent style, pronounced regional and varietal character, full bodied with a lingering finish. Subtle botrytis notes or oak

aging are acceptable1.


Kremstal DistrictPrimary rock in the west helps to produce minerally Grüner Veltliners that can rival those of the neighbouring Wachau. To the east deep loess soils produce more opulent examples.

• DAC Requirements– Classic: fresh, fruit driven aromas, aromatic, gentle

spice, no botrytis, no oak notes1.

– Reserve: opulent and full-bodied wines with pronounced varietal characters, density and with great length. Subtle botrytis and oak aging

aromas are permitted1.


Leithaberg DistrictPrimary rock soils, rich in calcium carbonate, produce characteristically minerally and full-bodied wines including Grüner Veltliner

• DAC Requirements– Taste: Regionally typical, compact, spicy,

delicate with minerals, little or no use of oak1.

– Aroma: regionally typical bouquet, fruity, spicy and refreshing, pleasant primary fruit aromas.1


Traisental DistrictGrüner Veltliner is the predominant variety in Traisental and is mostly grown in calcareous gravel, producing full-bodied, vibrant Grüner Veltliner with good aging potential

• DAC requirements– Classic: fresh, fruity, aromatic, spicy, no

botrytis, no oak notes. Minimum 12% alcohol1,2.– Reserve: as Classic, but with higher density

and length in the finish. Minimum 13% alcohol2.


Weinviertel DistrictA complexity of microclimates and soil types give the Weinviertel district a wonderful variety of wines including not only Grüner Veltliner but a host of other indigenous varieties.

• DAC Requirements– Classic: aromatic, spicy, pepper notes, no

botrytis, no oak notes1.– Reserve: dry, full-bodied, spicy, subtle

botrytis notes and oak aging allowed.1

Wachau District• Wachau district is home to some of the

very best examples of Grüner Veltliner .• Vineyards lie on steep terraced slopes

along the banks of the Danube.• Meagre soil gives rise to steely

minerality that is characteristic of Grüner Veltliner (and Riesling) from the Wachau district.

• Loess soils produce outstanding opulent examples.


Wachau District• 1st Wine producing district in

Austria to create own quality classification system.

• Supervised by Vinea Wachau• 3 categories based on alcohol

content



Steinfeder• Steinfeder: named after stipa

pennata, which is a tall, feathery grass that grows in the area.

• Lightest category of quality wine in the Wachau.

• Almost exclusively drunk locally and when young.

• Alcohol content minimum 11.5% and less than 12.5%


Federspiel• Federspiel: literally translates as

“Spring game”• Refers to tradition of falconry in

the area.• Exported world wide• Alcohol content minimum12.5%

and below 13.5%


Smaragd• Smaragd is the premier quality

wine from Wachau area• Minimum alcohol content 13.5% • Named after the emerald-green

lizards that are commonly found in the Wachau vineyards


Summary

• Austria’s most widely grown grape variety

• One of the world’s great iconic wines• Huge range in character• Competes successfully against the

very best of other varietals• DAC classification means you know

what to expect when purchasing• Wonderful with just about any food

Permission to use

• I’m happy to let people use this presentation if they contact me first for permission. Please email [email protected]


References1. Austrian Wine Marketing Board2. Traisental Wien

Lots more information about Grüner Veltliner and other indigenous Austrian wines at www.austrian-wines-direct.co.uk/gruner-veltliner

http://www.austrian-wines-direct.co.uk/gruner-veltliner

http://www.austrian-wines-direct.co.uk/gruner-veltliner

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