Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Gruner Veltliner

Gruner Veltliner, the Groovy Wine

This month’s article is on a grape with an interesting name: Gruner Veltliner. Pronounced GREW-nuhr Felt-LEEN-her, you might also hear folks refer to it simply as Gruner, GV, or even as GruVe (kind of like “groovy”).

Most wines made from Gruner Veltliner are from Austria, where it's the most planted grape variety. Almost all of it is grown in the northeast part of the country along the Danube to the west of Vienna. GV is Austria’s most famous white wine.
Gruner means “green” in German, not because the grape is green, but because it’s used to create fresh wines that are best consumed while they are young. The finest GV’s come from the Wachau area, and are deep and powerful due to the warmer region and the influence of the Danube River. The most elegant examples of GV come from the Kremstal and Kamptal regions.

GV’s are generally more pleasant, easier to drink, and better with food than most inexpensive Chardonnays. Chardonnays tend to have an oak influence, while GV does not. GV is generally fermented in stainless steel, and aged either in tanks or very old, large casks.

What does a glass of Gruner Veltliner taste like? It tends to be a crisp, light-to-medium bodied dry white wine with an edge of spice. It can also be made in a richer, more full-bodied style. It can have mineral, herbal, floral, and even fresh pea or lentil notes. GV’s typically have a perfumed nose, with hints of peach and other citrus and, most notably, hints of white pepper - white pepper is usually what distinguishes GV the best.

GV is high in acid and extremely versatile with food. It pairs well with shellfish, as well as lighter meats like pork and veal. Its peppery and green character makes it a great pairing for green veggies from peas and lentils, to quinoa and salads. Try this with hard to match foods like asparagus and artichokes. If you like Sauvignon Blanc, give GV a try!

Typically you can find a bottle of GV in the 15-40 dollar range.

Until next time, cheers!