Grüner Veltliner
Encyclopedia
Grüner Veltliner (ˈɡʀyːnɐ vɛltˈliːnɐ) is a variety of white wine
grape variety grown primarily in Austria, Slovakia
, and the Czech Republic. It has a reputation of being a particularly food-friendly wine. It is made into wines of many different styles - much is intended for drinking young in the Heuriger (bars serving new wine) of Vienna, a little is made into sparkling wine, but some is capable of long aging. The steep, Rhine-like vineyards of the Danube
west of Vienna
produce very pure, minerally Grüner Veltliners intended for laying down. Down in the plains, citrus and peach flavours are more apparent, with spicy notes of pepper and sometimes tobacco.
of 1985, Grüner Veltliner has been at the forefront of the switch in Austrian winemaking towards better quality dry wines.
) have long assumed that Grüner Veltliner is not related to the other varieties with "Veltliner" in their name (such as Roter Veltliner
), or that it is only distantly related. Neither has it been assumed to be related to the Muscat family, despite the old name "Grüner Muskateller" (Muskateller is the German designation for Muscat).
A first DNA analysis in the late 1990s secured Traminer as one parent of Grüner Veltliner, but was not able to identify the other parent among the candidates studied. The other parent was later found to be an originally unnamed variety of which only a single, abandoned, very old and weakened vine was found in St. Georgen outside Eisenstadt
in Austria. It is therefore referred to as St. Georgener-Rebe, "St. Georgen-vine". The vine was found in 2000 in an overgrown part of a pasture
in a location where there had not been any vineyard since the late 19th century, and is assumed to have been the last vine in this location for over a century. Local experts were not able to determine the variety of the vine. Only when it was threatened to be ripped out in 2005 additional samples were taken and later analysed at Klosterneuburg
. Genetic analysis in the following years by Ferdinand Regner was able to determine that St. Georgener-Rebe is a parent variety to Grüner Veltliner. The parents of this variety have not been determined. Plans exist to bring the variety into experimental cultivation in order to assess its viticultural properties.
in terraces reminiscent of the Rhine, on slopes so steep they can barely retain any soil. The result is a very pure, minerally wine capable of long ageing, that stands comparison with some of the great wines of the world. In recent blind tastings organised by the Austrian Wine Marketing Board, Grüner Veltliners have beaten world-class Chardonnays from the likes of Mondavi and Maison Louis Latour.
In the deeper clay soils in the Weinviertel
to the northeast of Vienna Grüner Veltliner develops more of a spicy, peppery character, which can be aged although a lot of production is intended to be drunk young in the heurigen bars of Vienna. Some is made into sparkling wine
in the far northeast around Poysdorf.
A little is grown south of Vienna, in the warmer climates of the vineyards towards the Hungarian plains, although the growers there are more interested in red and dessert wines.
Two of the first three DACs (geographical appellation
s) in Austria apply to Grüner Veltliner, the Weinviertel DAC and the Traisental DAC.
), produces some Grüner Veltliners of notable quality. Grüner Veltliner is the second most widely grown white grape variety in the Czech Republic, encompassing approximately 2120 hectares (5,238.6 acre) and resulting in approximately 11% of Czech wine production.
region of New York State, Napa Valley, Clarksburg AVA
and Santa Ynez Valley AVA
.
Australia's first production was the Lark Hill Grüner Veltliner (Canberra region) in 2009 and this was followed closely in 2010 by the first Hahndorf Hill Winery vintage.
and Frühroter Veltliner
, are not related to Grüner Veltliner.
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
grape variety grown primarily in Austria, Slovakia
Slovak wine
Slovak wine is produced in the southern part of Slovakia, which is divided into 6 wine-producing areas.Although Slovak wines except Tokaj are not well known internationally, they are popular domestically and in neighbouring countries.-Regions:...
, and the Czech Republic. It has a reputation of being a particularly food-friendly wine. It is made into wines of many different styles - much is intended for drinking young in the Heuriger (bars serving new wine) of Vienna, a little is made into sparkling wine, but some is capable of long aging. The steep, Rhine-like vineyards of the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
west of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
produce very pure, minerally Grüner Veltliners intended for laying down. Down in the plains, citrus and peach flavours are more apparent, with spicy notes of pepper and sometimes tobacco.
History
It is sometimes said that Grüner Veltliner dates back to Roman times and that its name is derived from Veltlin (Valtellina) in northern Italy. However, the current name appeared in a document for the first time in 1855 - before that time it was known as Weißgipfler. Only by the 1930s was Grüner Veltliner established as the standard name of the grape. Until the Second World War it was regarded as just another Austrian grape, it took Lenz Moser's Hochkultur system of vine training to really get the best out of it, and it expanded quickly in plantation from the 1950s to later become Austria's most planted variety. Since the antifreeze scandal1985 diethylene glycol wine scandal
The 1985 diethylene glycol wine scandal involved a limited number of Austrian wineries that had illegally adulterated their wines using the toxic substance diethylene glycol to make the wines appear sweeter and more full-bodied in the style of late harvest wines...
of 1985, Grüner Veltliner has been at the forefront of the switch in Austrian winemaking towards better quality dry wines.
Pedigree
Some ampelographers (such as Hermann Goethe in his famous 1887 handbook of ampelographyAmpelography
Ampelography is the field of botany concerned with the identification and classification of grapevines, Vitis spp. Traditionally this has been done by comparing the shape and colour of the vine leaves and grape berries; more recently the study of vines has been revolutionised by DNA...
) have long assumed that Grüner Veltliner is not related to the other varieties with "Veltliner" in their name (such as Roter Veltliner
Roter Veltliner
Roter Veltliner is a grape variety used to make white wine. It is found in Austria. Some of the better wines come from the Wagram district of Donauland.It is believed to be a very old variety, but its parentage has so far not been possible to determine...
), or that it is only distantly related. Neither has it been assumed to be related to the Muscat family, despite the old name "Grüner Muskateller" (Muskateller is the German designation for Muscat).
A first DNA analysis in the late 1990s secured Traminer as one parent of Grüner Veltliner, but was not able to identify the other parent among the candidates studied. The other parent was later found to be an originally unnamed variety of which only a single, abandoned, very old and weakened vine was found in St. Georgen outside Eisenstadt
Eisenstadt
- Politics :The current mayor of Eisenstadt is Andrea Fraunschiel ÖVP.The district council is composed as follows :* ÖVP: 17 seats* SPÖ: 8 seats* Austrian Green Party: 2 seats* FPÖ: 2 seats- Castles and palaces :...
in Austria. It is therefore referred to as St. Georgener-Rebe, "St. Georgen-vine". The vine was found in 2000 in an overgrown part of a pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
in a location where there had not been any vineyard since the late 19th century, and is assumed to have been the last vine in this location for over a century. Local experts were not able to determine the variety of the vine. Only when it was threatened to be ripped out in 2005 additional samples were taken and later analysed at Klosterneuburg
Klosterneuburg
Klosterneuburg is an attractive small town in Lower Austria, Austria with a population of 24,442.It is located on the Danube, immediately north of Vienna, from which it is separated by the Kahlenberg and Leopoldsberg hills...
. Genetic analysis in the following years by Ferdinand Regner was able to determine that St. Georgener-Rebe is a parent variety to Grüner Veltliner. The parents of this variety have not been determined. Plans exist to bring the variety into experimental cultivation in order to assess its viticultural properties.
Austria
In 2008, Grüner Veltliner plantations in Austria stood at 17151 hectares (42,381 acre), and it accounts for 32.6% of all vineyards in the country, almost all of it being grown in the northeast of the country. Along the Danube to the west of Vienna, in Wachau, Kremstal and Kamptal, it grows with RieslingRiesling
Riesling is a white grape variety which originated in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling wines are usually varietally...
in terraces reminiscent of the Rhine, on slopes so steep they can barely retain any soil. The result is a very pure, minerally wine capable of long ageing, that stands comparison with some of the great wines of the world. In recent blind tastings organised by the Austrian Wine Marketing Board, Grüner Veltliners have beaten world-class Chardonnays from the likes of Mondavi and Maison Louis Latour.
In the deeper clay soils in the Weinviertel
Weinviertel
The Weinviertel or Viertel unter dem Manhartsberg is located in the northeast of Lower Austria....
to the northeast of Vienna Grüner Veltliner develops more of a spicy, peppery character, which can be aged although a lot of production is intended to be drunk young in the heurigen bars of Vienna. Some is made into sparkling wine
Sparkling wine
Sparkling wine is a wine with significant levels of carbon dioxide in it making it fizzy. The carbon dioxide may result from natural fermentation, either in a bottle, as with the méthode champenoise, in a large tank designed to withstand the pressures involved , or as a result of carbon dioxide...
in the far northeast around Poysdorf.
A little is grown south of Vienna, in the warmer climates of the vineyards towards the Hungarian plains, although the growers there are more interested in red and dessert wines.
Two of the first three DACs (geographical appellation
Appellation
An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown; other types of food often have appellations as well...
s) in Austria apply to Grüner Veltliner, the Weinviertel DAC and the Traisental DAC.
Slovakia
Grüner Veltliner is the most popular wine group in country standing at 2756 hectares (6,810.2 acre)Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, particularly southern Moravia close to the Austrian border (wine subregion MikulovskáMikulovská wine
Mikulovská is one of four Czech wine regions within southern Moravia, Czech Republic. The Mikulovská wine region, containing 30 wine villages, is famed for producing white wines grown in the limestone soils, particularly in and around the area of the Pálava Landscape Protected Area...
), produces some Grüner Veltliners of notable quality. Grüner Veltliner is the second most widely grown white grape variety in the Czech Republic, encompassing approximately 2120 hectares (5,238.6 acre) and resulting in approximately 11% of Czech wine production.
United States
In recent years a few US wineries have started to grow and bottle Grüner Veltliner, including wineries and vineyards in Oregon, Maryland, the Finger LakesFinger Lakes AVA
The Finger Lakes AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Upstate New York, south of Lake Ontario. The Finger Lakes encompass eleven glacial lakes, but the area around Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca, and Cayuga Lakes contain the vast majority of vineyard plantings in the AVA...
region of New York State, Napa Valley, Clarksburg AVA
Clarksburg AVA
The Clarksburg AVA is an American Viticultural Area that spans three counties in California's Sacramento Valley. Located in portions of Sacramento County, Solano County, and Yolo County, the Clarksburg AVA includes near the towns of Clarksburg. The growing region has dense clay and loam soils...
and Santa Ynez Valley AVA
Santa Ynez Valley AVA
The Santa Ynez Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Santa Barbara County, California. It is part of the larger Central Coast AVA, and contains the greatest concentration of wineries in Santa Barbara County. The valley is formed by the Purisima Hills and San Rafael Mountains to...
.
New Zealand
The variety is now being experimented with by a number of winemakers in New Zealand including Spade Oak in the Gisborne region.Grüner Veltliner in Australia
Grüner Veltliner is now cultivated in Australia and especially in the Adelaide Hills wine region of South Australia. This region is particularly suited to the growing of this variety because of its specific combination of a low Mean January Temperature (MJT) and an associated high diurnal variation. Three clones were imported into Australia in 2006 by Hahndorf Hill Winery in the Adelaide Hills and have since been propagated and planted extensively across the region. There will be about a dozen growers by spring 2011 in this cool-climate region.Australia's first production was the Lark Hill Grüner Veltliner (Canberra region) in 2009 and this was followed closely in 2010 by the first Hahndorf Hill Winery vintage.
Vine and viticulture
The leaves are five-lobed and the bunches are long but compact, with deep green grapes that ripen in mid-late October.Synonyms
Grüner Veltliner, which colloquially is sometimes referred to as GrüVe, is also known under the following synonyms: Bielospicak, Cima Biancam, Dreimänner, Feherhegyü, Feldlinger, Green Veltliner, Grün Muskateller, Grüne Manhardsrebe, Grüner, Grüner Muskateler, Grüner Muskateller (in common usage until the 1930s), Grüner Velteliner, Grüner Weissgipfler, Grüner Weltliner, Grünmuskateller, Gruner Veltliner, Manhardsrebe, Manhardtraube, Manhartsrebe, Mauhardsrebe, Mouhardrebe, Mouhardsrebe, Muskatel, Muskatel Zeleny, Nemes Veltelini, Plinia Austriaca, Ranfol Bianco, Ranfol Bijeli, Ranfol Weisser, Rdeci Veltinec, Reifler Weiss, Ryvola Bila, Tarant Bily, Valtelin Blanc, Valtelina Vert, Valteliner, Valteliner Blanc, Valteliner Vert, Velteliner Grüner, Velteliner Vert, Velteliner Weisser, Veltelini Zöld, Veltlin Zeleny, Veltlinac Zeleni, Veltlinec, Veltliner, Veltliner Blanc, Veltliner Grun, Veltliner Gruner, Veltliner Grün, Veltliner Verde, Veltlini, Veltlínské Zelené, Veltlinski Zelenii, Veltlinsky Vert, Veltlinsky Zeleny, Vetlinac, Vetlinac Zeleni, Weisser Raifler, Weisser Reifler, Weisser Valteliner, Weisser Velteliner, Weisser Veltliner, Weissgipfler, Weissgipfler Grüner, Yesil Veltliner, Zeleni Vetlinac, Zeleny Muskatel, Zleni Veltinac, Zöld Muskotally, Zöld Muskotalynak, Zöld Veltelini, Zöld Velteliny, Zöldveltelini, Zold Veltelini.Clones, crossings and mutations
Two other Austrian varieties with "Veltliner" in their names, Roter VeltlinerRoter Veltliner
Roter Veltliner is a grape variety used to make white wine. It is found in Austria. Some of the better wines come from the Wagram district of Donauland.It is believed to be a very old variety, but its parentage has so far not been possible to determine...
and Frühroter Veltliner
Frühroter Veltliner
Frühroter Veltliner is a variety of early-ripening, red-skinned white wine grape grown primarily in the Weinviertel district of Lower Austria. It accounts for 1.3% of total Austrian vineyards and is diminishing....
, are not related to Grüner Veltliner.
External links
- Grape varieties in Austria: Grüner Veltliner Austrian Wine Marketing Service
- Grüner Veltliner An Introduction