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Grüner Veltliner

Light-to-medium crisp white

Grüner Veltliner: taste & food pairing

Say it: GROO-ner felt-LEE-ner · Also called Grüner

Austria’s zippy white with lime, green apple and a signature twist of white pepper. A secret weapon for hard-to-pair veggies and fried food.

BodyLightFull
SweetnessDrySweet
AciditySoftCrisp
TanninSmoothGrippy
AlcoholLowHigh
Tastes likelime, green apple, white pepper, celery, radish
Alcohol11.5-13.5%
Serve at45-50°F (7-10°C)
GlassWhite wine glass
Decant?No
What to payFrom $12 (often in 1-liter bottles)

Grüner Veltliner is Austria’s national grape. It’s crisp and citrusy with a distinctive white-pepper and green-vegetable note that makes it uniquely good with tricky foods.

Best food with Grüner Veltliner

VegetarianSalad Sauvignon Blanc · Grüner Veltliner · Rosé SeafoodSushi Riesling · Champagne · Grüner Veltliner VegetarianGrilled vegetables Sauvignon Blanc · Rosé · Cabernet Franc PoultryFried chicken Champagne · Cava · Grüner Veltliner Spicy & AsianThai food Riesling · Sauvignon Blanc · Gewürztraminer SeafoodWhite fish (cod, halibut, sole) Sauvignon Blanc · Albariño · Chardonnay

How it tastes

Lime, green apple and grapefruit with white pepper, celery and radish. Top versions from the Wachau are richer and age well.

Food it loves

Asparagus, artichokes, salads, schnitzel, fried chicken, sushi and Vietnamese food: things that make most wines taste odd.

Buying tips

Liter bottles of simple Grüner are great party wines. Look for Kamptal or Kremstal for more depth.

Where it’s grown

Austria (Wachau, Kamptal, Kremstal)

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If you like Grüner Veltliner, try…

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