Grüner Veltliner
Grüner Veltliner (/ˈɡryːnɐ ˈfɛltliːnɐ/; German for “green Veltliner”) is a white grape variety regarded as the flagship of Austrian viticulture. The variety accounts for a significant share of the country’s vineyard plantings and is particularly associated with the regions along the Danube such as Wachau, Kamptal and Kremstal.[1]
Background
The origins of Grüner Veltliner were clarified in the late 20th century when DNA research identified its parentage as a crossing of Traminer and St. Georgener Rebe, a nearly extinct Austrian variety.[2] Though cultivated for centuries, its rise to prominence came only after the mid-20th century, when improved viticultural techniques and controlled yields replaced earlier associations with neutral bulk wine. Today, it represents around one third of Austria’s vineyard area, making it the most widely planted grape in the country.[3]
Characteristics
Grüner Veltliner is a vigorous and high-yielding vine, requiring careful canopy management to achieve concentration. It is sensitive to site conditions, performing best on loess soils but also expressing notable minerality on primary rock terraces of the Wachau.[4]
In sensory terms, the wines often show green apple, citrus, white pepper and herbal notes, with riper examples offering stone fruit and tropical nuances. The grape has a natural affinity for acidity, which contributes to freshness and ageing potential. Body and structure vary according to style, from light, early-drinking wines to full-bodied expressions capable of decades of maturation.
Use in winemaking
The stylistic range of Grüner Veltliner is wide. At one end are crisp, unoaked wines made for youthful consumption, often bottled in screwcaps. At the other, leading producers vinify low-yielding fruit in large neutral oak casks to produce structured, long-lived wines.[5]
The variety is closely linked with Austria’s quality wine classifications, particularly DAC regions such as Kamptal and Kremstal. Outside Austria, it has found plantings in Central Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the United States, though on a smaller scale.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ Robinson (ed.), The Oxford Companion to Wine, Oxford University Press, 2015, ISBN 978-0198705383.
- ↑ Robinson, Harding & Vouillamoz, Wine Grapes, HarperCollins, 2012.
- ↑ Johnson & Robinson, The World Atlas of Wine, 8th ed., Mitchell Beazley, 2019.
- ↑ Steidl, Grüner Veltliner: Österreichs Paradewein, Falstaff, 2010 (German).
- ↑ Johnson & Robinson, The World Atlas of Wine, 8th ed., Mitchell Beazley, 2019.
- ↑ Robinson (ed.), The Oxford Companion to Wine, Oxford University Press, 2015.