Austria is a beautiful country. The country side is so green! The lakes look so pristine and the mountains fill the horizon. Gruner Veltliner is the queen grape varietal in Austria. I couldn’t even compare it to a Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, or Sauvignon blanc. This varietal definitely has its place in the white wine world. I first enjoyed this type of wine at a farm to table restaurant in Kansas City; way back in the day. At that moment I knew it was different, it stood out, made an impression, and a white I suggest to people when they ask for something different from your typical white wine. Biokult Gruner Veltliner was introduced to me by a friend in the wine business. We were becoming friends fast over this bottle of refreshing white on a hot day and it quickly became one of my favorites. The other interesting piece about this brand is the wine is completely organic.
Organic wine has a few regulations to abide by to actually be called and labeled organic. These are most of the regulations the agricultural side has to abide by:
-Grapes have been grown in accordance with the organic standards established by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP).
-Does not use herbicides, pesticides, fungicides or synthetic chemicals
-May display the USDA ORGANIC logo and/or the certifier’s logo.
To be made with Organic grapes in a certified facility requires these regulations:
-Does not use herbicides, pesticides, fungicides or synthetic chemicals
-Allowed up to 100ppm added sulfites
-May contain added sulfites up to 100ppm.
-These wines DO NOT display the USDA ORGANIC logo but MAY display the certifier’s logo like CCOF (CA Certified Organic Farmers)
Some people think the wine is more clean when using these methods and certifications.
Biokult Gruner Veltliner 2013
Biokult Gruner Veltliner 2013 uses stainless steel to ferment and age the grapes. Only the best grapes out of the vintage are used to create this wine. They do believe in using soft techniques to preserve the natural grape which also intensifies the aromatics.
Wine Notes:
Nose: Lemon Zest, Sage, Wildflowers, Straw
Taste: sprinkle of Wheat and Toast, Candied Lemon peel, Grapefruit, Rose-hip
The mouth feel is dry with a smooth finish. Very clean, crisp and elegant. I truly do enjoy this wine. Very versatile and can be paired with a summer salad or picnic lunch or can also be enjoyed during a Thanksgiving meal or with appetizers.
