Grüner Veltliner at a Glance
Structure
- Body Medium Minus
- Sugar Dry
- Acid Medium Plus
- Alcohol Medium Minus
- Tannins Light
The Shape of Grüner Veltliner
Each spoke runs from delicate (centre) to pronounced (edge). Tap a benchmark to lay a familiar grape over the top.
More About Grüner Veltliner
(Pronounced “grooh-ner VELT-leehn-er”)
Grüner Veltliner is Austria's grape gang leader whose turf continues to expand, causing some serious upsets. AKA Grüner, GruVe (kind of like "groovy"), or GV, depending on who's asking, has no problem with getting in your face and letting you know who you're fooling with. Kidding aside, Grüner Veltliner is named for its color and hometown. The word Grüner means green in English, and Veltliner is its village of origin. Genetic analysis shows that it's the offspring of Savagnin and an obscure Austrian grapevine named St. Georgener-Rebe that produces no grapes.
Today Grüner Veltliner is prized as Austria's "Very Own" and most widely planted grape. While it dates back to the mid-1800s, its resident adoration didn't start until the mid-1900s when it became the favorite wine served in wine-gardens, known as Heurigen's and Buschenschank's. Here vineyard keepers serve fresh glasses of the current vintage in a warm and cozy atmosphere. For #Winetravelers, then and now, Heurigen's and Buschenschank's are places to socialize, relax, and, most importantly, sample authentic Austrian wine and food.
Later in the early 2000s, Grüner Veltliner went from being a local wine bottled in liter format with a crown cap to gaining international attention as a contender rivaling Chardonnay. How? Because of Grüner Veltliner's supernatural ability to match with virtually any food, including the bitterly uncooperative artichoke and asparagus. Grüner's friendly disposition landed it in a prestigious blind-tasting conducted by world-renowned wine experts. Pitted against Chardonnay, "GruVe" swept 7 out of 10 categories proving its ability to produce fine, full-bodied wines capable of aging.
Terroir and Grüner Veltliner Growing Regions
To express its full potential, GV needs to be planted on mineral-rich slopes composed of silt, sand, clay, and rock with sunny exposure and cool evening breezes. While Austria's finest expressions come from vineyards above the Danube River, in Wachau, Kremstal, and Kamptal regions, it's also cultivated in neighboring Trentino-Alto Adige Valle Isarco, Italy, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. But since quality Grüner Veltliner has begun to make a global impact, vines have been planted in Portugal, Adelaide Hills, Australia, Central Otago, New Zealand, Clarksburg, San Benito, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Willamette Valley, Edna Valley, Umpqua Valley, Columbia Gorge and Washington.
Grüner Veltliner Tasting Notes
Grüner Veltliner is typically vinified as a single variety, and it is made into an incredible spectrum of styles and structures, from long-aging, richly dense, fruited wines to high-toned, electric, racy, sparkling, sweet and eiswein. Its color is pale straw with hints of green and can have a slight effervescence in youth, giving rise to vivid aromatics of grapefruit, lime, lemon, white flowers, gunpowder, dill, and wasabi. In terms of taste, expect searing acidity followed by yellow apple, tropical fruit, radish, arugula, watercress, tarragon, sage, ginger, honey, and saffron.
Food Pairing Grüner Veltliner Wines
As mentioned, GV has the capacity to complement practically any food. Still, there are some extraordinary standouts, starting with Austrian wiener schnitzel, American fried chicken, vegan fare, sushi, curries, spicy Thai and Vietnamese, summer rolls, noodle salad, dim sum, barbeque ribs, fresh cheeses, zucchini and the notorious wine killers like salads with vinaigrette dressing, cabbage, sprouts, kale, pickles and the already mentioned asparagus and artichoke.
Countries Producing Grüner Veltliner
Austria
Italy
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Hungary
Portugal
New Zealand
Australia
USA
Major Grüner Veltliner Producers by Country
Austria
Hirtzberger, Smaragd, Wachau
Emmerich Knoll Loibner Schutt, Wachau
F.X. Pichler Loibner Klostersatz, Wachau
Prager Smaragd, Wachau
Nikolaihof, Wachau
Salomon Undhof, Kremstal
Nigl, Kremstal
Willi Brundlmayer, Kamptal
Schloss Gobelsburg, Kamptal
Ewald Gruber-Roschitz, Niederosterreich
Italy
Tenuta Spitalerhof, Trentino-Alto Adige
Kellerei Cantina Valle Isarco, Sudtirol Eisacktaler Trentino-Alto Adige
Manni Nossing Sudtirol Eisacktaler, Trentino-Alto Adige
Abbazia di Novacella-Kloster, Sudtirol Eisacktaler, Trentino-Alto Adige
Czech Republic
Vino Z, Moravia
Edelspitz, Moravia
Arte Vini, Moravia
Slovakia
Naboso Dumas Welsch, Bratislava
Hungary
Count Karolyi
Floriana
Tuzko Birtok, Szekszard
Portugal
Broadbent
New Zealand
Jules Taylor, Marlborough
Coopers Creek, Gisborne
Yealands Estate, Awatere Valley
Mount Edward Morrison, Central Otago
Australia
Nepenthe Winemaker's Selection, Adelaide Hills
Hahndorf Hill Winery, Adelaide Hills
Stoney Rise, Tamar Valley
Lark Hill, Canberra District
USA
Dr. Konstantin Frank, Finger Lakes
Zugibe, Finger Lakes
Black Star Farms, Old Mission Peninsula
Savage Grace, Columbia Gorge
Scenic Valley Farms, Willamette Valley
Illahe Estate Willamette Valley
Belden Barns Estate, Sonoma Mountain
Dancing Coyote, Clarksburg
Vocal Vineyards, Santa Cruz Mountains
Williams Selyem, San Benito
Baker & Brain Paragon, Edna Valley
Lincourt, Sta Rita Hills
Tatomer, Santa Barbara County
Learn About These Other Wine Grape Varieties
Jeff or “JB” is a native to the San Francisco Bay area and wants to live in a world where wine is served with every meal. As a beverage and food professional with more than 20 years of experience, he’s contributed to The Food Lover’s Guide to Wine; The Pho Cookbook (James Beard Award Best Signal Subject 2018); Unforgettable: The Bold Flavors of Paula Wolfert's Renegade Life (James Beard Award Lifetime Achievement Award 2018); Manresa: An Edible Reflection; Happiness is on the Plate: Episode #1; Wine Spectator; Wine Enthusiast; The Wall Street Journal; San Francisco Chronicle; and GQ Magazine. When he’s not “tasting” and eating he’s writing about food and beverage or developing recipes in his laboratory (AKA: kitchen).
Taste Grüner Veltliner at the Source
Grüner Veltliner is tied to a handful of regions. Explore each as a travel destination — with wineries, tours and guides.
Galen Glen Winery
The Galen Glen Tasting Room sits atop a high hillside with beautiful views of the surrounding vineyards and valley. Vines grow within ancient glacial soils atop millions of years old sea fossils. The land was ...
Explore Galen Glen Winery →Wineries Known for Grüner Veltliner
Estates specializing in Grüner Veltliner, open for tastings.
Galen Glen Winery
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard
Alfaro Family Vineyards & Winery
Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery
Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars
Moonrise
Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards
Atwater Vineyards
Grüner Veltliner: Frequently Asked Questions
What does Grüner Veltliner taste like?
Grüner Veltliner is a crisp, dry white with flavors of green apple, lime, white pepper, and citrus, plus a distinctive peppery, spicy note and hints of fresh herbs and celery. Bright acidity and a mineral edge define it, while richer versions add stone fruit and roundness.
Is Grüner Veltliner sweet or dry?
Grüner Veltliner is usually a dry white wine with high acidity, showing zesty citrus, green fruit, and its signature white-pepper spice. Most examples are crisp and refreshing. Some richer reserve styles are fuller-bodied, and rare late-harvest versions are sweet, but dry is the norm.
What foods pair with Grüner Veltliner?
Grüner Veltliner is famously versatile, even handling tricky vegetables like asparagus and artichokes. Its peppery acidity pairs with schnitzel, salads, sushi, Asian cuisine, and herb-driven dishes. It complements light fish, poultry, and vegetable-forward plates, and is a reliable match for green, spicy flavors.
What wine is made from Grüner Veltliner?
Grüner Veltliner is Austria's signature white grape, making everything from light, spritzy everyday wines to concentrated, age-worthy reserves from top sites in the Wachau, Kremstal, and Kamptal. Styles are usually dry and unoaked, though some premium bottlings gain richness with lees aging or maturity.
Where is Grüner Veltliner grown?
Grüner Veltliner is overwhelmingly Austrian, dominating vineyards along the Danube in the Wachau, Kremstal, Kamptal, and Weinviertel. It is also grown in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary, with small but growing plantings in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
How should I serve Grüner Veltliner?
Serve Grüner Veltliner well chilled, around 45-50°F, to highlight its crisp acidity and peppery freshness. Use a standard white-wine glass. Light styles are best young, while concentrated Wachau and Kamptal reserves can age gracefully for a decade, developing honeyed, complex flavors.
