Variety
WhiteGrüner Veltliner
Also known as: Veltliner
Austria's national grape – pepper, green apple, radish, taut acidity. A growing insider tip in Rheinhessen and the Pfalz.
Portrait
Grüner Veltliner is Austria's most important grape and covers roughly a third of the country's vineyard area. DNA analysis in 2002 revealed a cross of Traminer and the little-known St. Georgen variety, discovered in Burgenland. Its core regions are the Weinviertel, Wachau, Kamptal and Kremstal; there are also significant plantings in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. In Germany the variety is rare, with small but growing plantings in Rheinhessen and the Pfalz.
The vine is vigorous and productive, ripens mid-to-late and does well on deep loess and loam soils; on poor primary-rock terraces the denser wines emerge. Typical aromas are white pepper, green apple and radish, with taut acidity. Styles range from the light, fresh Klassik wines of the Weinviertel to the powerful Smaragd wines of the Wachau, which can age for many years.
At the table Grüner Veltliner is a versatile companion: with Wiener Schnitzel, asparagus, spiced vegetables and Asian-seasoned dishes.
Taste profile
Six axes — acidity, sweetness, body, tannin, aroma intensity and depth — on a 0–5 scale, based on typical style. Real wines vary by region and producer.
Typical aromas — Grüner Veltliner
These 5 aromas typically define Grüner Veltliner. Actual taste experience varies by region and style.
White pepper
Green apple
Radish
Citrus
Tobacco
Grüner Veltliner aroma families
These aroma categories are characteristic of Grüner Veltliner. Other varieties have different focuses.
Fruit aromas are the most common and come directly from the grape, ranging from citrus through stone fruit to black berries.
Herbal aromas can be finely aromatic (sage) or grassy – a stylistic feature in some varieties, ripeness indicator in others.
Spicy aromas often emerge from oak aging (vanilla, clove) or with maturity (black pepper).
Key regions
Grüner Veltliner is grown in the following regions of our atlas. Click to see wineries.
Wineries with Grüner Veltliner
1 curated profiles in our atlas grow Grüner Veltliner.
1 wineries
