Grüner Veltliner grape variety

Grüner Veltliner is a white grape variety that is mainly grown in Austria and is the country's best-known grape. The wines are light to medium-bodied, with moderate acidity and a characteristic pepper flavour that is often compared to white peppercorns or radishes. Grüner Veltliner wines also show flavours of citrus, green apple, pear and sometimes honey and herbal notes.

The wines can be dry, semi-dry or sweet and can be matured in steel tanks or wooden barrels. The wine is an excellent accompaniment to a variety of dishes, from fish and seafood to pork and Asian cuisine. Grüner Veltliner is often drunk young to enjoy its freshness and fruitiness, but high-quality examples can also have a certain ageing potential. The wines offer a unique combination of freshness, flavour and versatility and are a hallmark of Austrian wines.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Grüner Veltliner wine

What characterises the Grüner Veltliner grape variety?

Grüner Veltliner is Austria's most important white wine variety. It is characterised by freshness, moderate acidity and a typical pepper aroma, complemented by citrus, green apple and pear. Versatile in style - from light to full-bodied - it is an excellent accompaniment to fish, meat and Asian cuisine. Its character combines freshness, flavour and versatility, making it the hallmark of Austrian wines.

What is Grüner Veltliner and where does it come from?

Grüner Veltliner is Austria's most important grape variety and is considered the flagship of the country's wine tradition. Around a third of the country's total vineyard area is planted with it - especially in Lower Austria, the Weinviertel, the Wachau and the Kamptal. It is an autochthonous variety, i.e. firmly rooted in its origins, and is synonymous with fresh, lively white wines that are appreciated all over the world.

How does Grüner Veltliner taste compared to other white wines?

Typical are the peppery notes - often referred to as "Pfefferl" - combined with flavours of green apple, citrus fruit and sometimes stone fruit. Compared to Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner is usually fresher, crisper and leaner, with more flavour. Riesling, on the other hand, is often fruitier and more aromatic, while Grüner Veltliner offers a fine balance between fruit, acidity and flavour.

Can Grüner Veltliner be stored for a long time?

Most Grüner Veltliners are designed to be enjoyed fresh in the first few years. However, there are also high-quality single-vineyard wines that can mature excellently and develop complex honey and nutty flavours after a few years. As a rule of thumb: drink simple qualities young, top wines are allowed to mature.

What dishes go well with Grüner Veltliner?

Grüner Veltliner is a true all-rounder in the kitchen. It goes perfectly with
- Classic Viennese cuisine (Wiener Schnitzel, fried chicken)
- Fish and poultry dishes
- Asian dishes with a slight spiciness
- Vegetable dishes such as asparagus or artichokes
Thanks to its freshness and spiciness, it also harmonises with many dishes that are often difficult to pair with other white wines.

How should Grüner Veltliner be served?

It is best enjoyed well chilled at 8-10 °C. Young, fresh wines are shown to their best advantage in a classic white wine glass, while stronger single-vineyard wines are allowed to breathe in a larger glass.

What are the typical characteristics of a Grüner Veltliner?

- Fresh, lively acidity
- Characteristic "pepperiness"
- Flavours of apple, citrus, sometimes exotic fruit
- Versatility as a food companion
- Slender to medium body, depending on ageing also strong and complex

How is Grüner Veltliner produced?

It is mainly produced in steel tanks to preserve the freshness and fruit. High-quality varieties can also be matured in wooden barrels to add depth and structure. The focus is on gentle harvesting and fermentation in order to preserve the typical flavour of the variety.

How does Austrian Grüner Veltliner differ from other varieties?

Grüner Veltliner is almost exclusively at home in Austria - that's what makes it so special. There are small plantations in New Zealand or the USA, but real character and typicality are typically Austrian: cool nights, mineral soils and centuries of experience of the winegrowers make the difference.

Are there different varieties of Grüner Veltliner?

Strictly speaking, there is only one grape variety, Grüner Veltliner - but there are many different styles
- Light, fresh Heurigen wines
- Classic quality wines with flavour and drinking pleasure
- Strong single-vineyard wines with depth and ageing potential
- Sparkling wine from Grüner Veltliner, sparkling and elegant

What makes Grüner Veltliner such a popular choice among white wines?

Its versatility: whether an uncomplicated terrace wine, an elegant accompaniment to meals or a complex single-vineyard wine - Grüner Veltliner offers the right character for every occasion. It also has an unmistakable freshness and flavour that sets it apart from international classics. No wonder it is considered Austria's "national wine".

Discover more grape varieties for white wines.

Riesling

Riesling is one of the best-known white grape varieties and is cultivated all over the world - first and foremost in Germany, of course. It is more flexible and versatile than almost any other grape.

Trebbiano/Ugni Blanc

The Italian Trebbiano is one of the most widely cultivated grape varieties in the world and is known for its lively acidity and freshness. The wines have a light, straw-yellow colour and a light, fresh aroma of citrus fruits and apples.

Silvaner

Silvaner is a white grape variety that originated in Austria, but is now most widespread in Germany, where it plays an important role alongside Riesling. Other noteworthy stocks can still be found in Alsace in France. The wines are known for their freshness, minerality and sometimes strong, earthy character.

Weißburgunder

The Pinot Blanc grape - called Pinot Blanc in France and Pinot Bianco in Italy - is the lightest-coloured member of the large Burgundy family. The variety produces fresh, fruity wines whose acidity can vary from moderate to strong depending on the style and which develop delicate fruit flavours such as apples, pears or citrus fruits, often complemented by nutty notes such as almonds.

Viognier

Viognier is a white grape variety that originally comes from the Rhône region in south-east France, but is now cultivated in many countries. It produces complex and aromatically dense wines with a strong alcohol content and moderate acidity.

Welschriesling

Welschriesling is a white grape variety that is mainly cultivated in Austria and the wider Danube region of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. Despite its name, it is not related to Riesling.

Syrah

The French Rhone Valley is the home of Syrah, a red grape variety that can also be found in the USA and especially in Australia, where it is usually known as Shiraz. The two names are as different as the respective styles with which the genetically identical grape varieties are vinified.

Aglianico

Aglianico is one of the oldest grape varieties from southern Italy. The first written evidence of its cultivation dates back to the 16th century. It produces high-quality wines with a deep ruby to garnet red colour and a rich, multi-layered bouquet.

Barbera

Barbera is the most widely cultivated red grape variety in the northern Italian region of Piedmont - but is also widespread in Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. It produces fruity, accessible red wines with an intense ruby red colour and aromas of red fruits, cherries, plums and spices. They are medium-bodied on the palate, with moderate tannins and lively acidity even when fully ripe.

Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc is a red grape variety that originated in France, particularly in Bordeaux and the Loire Valley. The grape - a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon - produces medium-bodied wines with moderate tannins but high acidity.

Carignan

Carignan originally comes from Spain - but today it is mainly at home in the neighbouring south of France, Languedoc-Roussillon. It is characterised by a deep dark colour, strong tannins and high acidity.

Carmenère

Carmenère gilt als die "Signature Grape" Chiles. Fast die Hälfte der weltweiten Bestände wachsen dort. Ursprünglich stammt die Sorte aber aus Bordeaux, wo vor der Reblauskatastrophe weit verbreitet war.

Here you can find information on other grape varieties.