Grüner Veltliner is a white grape variety with roots in Austria, where it is the single most important wine grape of all. It is grown above all in Wachau, but you will also find it elsewhere in Austria as well as in neighbouring Czechia. For many, Grüner Veltliner is the very epitome of Austrian white wine, and it has made the country known far beyond its own borders.
The grape yields dry white wines in a fresh and well-balanced style. The flavour is typically light and fruity, and the aromatic character makes the wines immediately appealing. One of the grape's most distinctive hallmarks is a touch of pepper, which comes through most clearly in the more ambitious examples. Added to this is often a fine minerality that gives the wines a little extra depth and length.
It is precisely the combination of freshness, fruit and the spicy kick that makes Grüner Veltliner a versatile companion at the table. It does well with light dishes, where a fresh white wine with good balance is allowed to play along without taking over. If you want to taste a white wine that is both easy to love and holds a personal character, Grüner Veltliner is an obvious place to begin.
The grape appears under several names, including Grüner, Veltliner, Grünmuskateller, Weissgipfler and the Czech Veltlínské Zelene. Whatever it is called, it is the same recognisable style with pepper, fruit and minerality that recurs in the glass.