The flagship grape of Austria, Grüner Veltliner is a natural cross of Traminer and St. Georgen. Grüner accounts for almost 30% of all grapes planted with around 13,500 hectares under vine in the country. The Austrian native has become an international sensation amongst sommeliers worldwide as the perfect food wine due to its high acidity. In Austria it is prized for the easy drinking wine it produces but can also wow the palate with complexity in the right winemaker’s hands. The typical flavor profile is often described as displaying elements of green apple with an unmistakable white pepper spiciness.
Typically harvested from Knoll’s vineyards in and around the town of Unterloiben, this Grüner falls under the Vinea Wachau’s second tier of quality classification, known as Federspiel. Wines in the Federspiel category must have an alcohol content between 11.5% and 12.5% by volume.