Ried Kremser Wachtberg Kremstal DAC Reserve 2017 and Gruber Röschitz Weinviertel 2019 both made from Austria’s signature grape variety – Grüner Veltliner, pronounced ‘groo-ner velt-LEE-ner’.
The Grüner Veltliner is an indigenous Austrian variety. It is on a shortlist of white grapes that can be turned into a variety of wine styles. Winemakers can produce anything from easy-drinking picnic type to full-bodied wines that can be aged and develop complexity worthy of world-class wine.
Grüner vs Grüner: Comparing Austrian Grüner Veltliner wines
Both Ried Kremser Wachtberg Kremstal DAC Reserve 2017 and Gruber Röschitz Weinviertel 2019 are a mouthful alphabetically and literally! But no worries, we’ll break it down for you and help you enjoy these wines in all their complexities, literal or not.
Gruber Röschitz Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner 2019
Gruber Röschitz Weinviertel Grüner Veltliner 2019 comes from the Weinviertel DAC, Austria’s largest and northernmost wine-growing region located on the border with the Chech Republic. It is known for its classic peppery Grüner Veltliner style of wines. These wines are light, fresh, and fruity. Now that we know where the wine comes from and what grape it’s made from let’s find out who makes it.
Gruber Röschitz Winery
Gruber Röschitz is the producer’s name, and it’s a compound from the Gruber family name and winery’s location in Röschitz. It’s an authentic family winery run by three Gruber siblings with their parents and grandparents’ help. Ewald is the Cellar Master. Christian is the Vineyard Manager, and Maria is the Tasting Room Manager and winery’s representative at the industry events.
Since 2013 they practice organic farming in various parts of their vineyards. In their own word, “We do it out of conviction, not because it is in fashion. The extra work it demands (and less yield) reimburses us with more identity and character in our wines: Allowing nature to take the reins, we promote the self-healing powers of the vines to support the most valuable resources – the soils of our homeland Röschitz.”
Hooray! The label is deciphered. Gruber Röschitz winery from Weinviertel wine region of Austria made this wine from Grüner Veltliner grape in 2019.
In the Glass
True to its Klassik style, it’s a light and fruity wine both on the nose and the palate.
The aromas of the Gruber Grüner are a combination of peach and pear, lemon and tangerine, and fresh marjoram.
It created a sensation of lightly fizzy wine with the flavors of pear cider, green apple, tangerine, and a hint of wheatgrass on the palate.
This Grüner can pair well with most lunch dishes from salads and soups to hearty sandwiches. It would be a symphony with Cuban Pulled Pork Sando.
Ried Kremser Wachtberg Kremstal DAC Grüner Veltliner Reserve 2017
The label of Ried Kremser Wachtberg Kremstal DAC Grüner Veltliner Reserve 2017 is really loaded.
Winery Winzer Krems, Sangrube 13
This wine is produced by Winzer Krems, one of the largest producers and exporters of estate-bottled quality wine in Austria. Winzer Krems is collectively owned by 900 winegrowers with combined 3,000 acres of vineyards in the Krems river valley and the surrounding wine-growing regions.
The grapes for this wine came from Kremser Wachtberg single-vineyard
located in the Kremstal DAC wine region. Kremstal region is known for its spicy and Reserve style Grüners.
In the Glass
Kremser Wachtberg Kremstal DAC Grüner Veltliner Reserve means that it’s in a category of medium to fuller-bodied wine that can be aged in oak.
Kremser Wachtberg started with mineral and green grass notes on the nose and opened up with fragrant peach, apricot, and marjoram herbs.
It was apparent right away that it’s substantially fuller-bodied wine compare to Gruber Röschitz Grüner. It felt almost off-dry with flavors of ripe apple and apricot, tropical notes of passion fruit and savory papaya, all balanced with a hint of seawater saltiness.
Pork dishes are the best with this wine, including local specialty “Wiener Schnitzel.”
Kremser Wachtberg Grüner vs. Gruber Röschitz Grüner
These two Grüner Veltliners are the perfect examples of two different styles of this varietal in Austria. Gruber Röschitz is the light fruity everyday style of Grüners that you drink while waiting for your Kremser Wachtberg Reserve kind of Grüners to mature for 5 to 10 years.
The first one you have for lunch with a sandwich and enjoy it for its fruitiness. The latter you reserve for special occasions and romantic dinner and savor the complexity and depth of flavors.
What are your thoughts if you ever had a Grüner Veltliner?
Any fantastic Grüners you would recommend to try?
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