DAN'S WINE BLOG- THIS WEEK'S WINE REVIEW

I have been a big fan of the native Austrian Wine white variety #grunerveltliner since I first tasted it over a decade ago. This love was enhanced by trips to Austria culminating in attending VieVinum 2019 in the beautiful city of #vienna, where there were over 1,000 Gruner on taste. Whilst I obviously did not taste them all, those that I did taste demonstrated the quality and superb flavours of this awesome variety. It is the hero/superstar of Austrian winemaking with over 1/3 of all vineyard area in the country planted to Gruner.

Here in Australia the first Gruner was the 2009 by Canberra based Lark Hill Winery, which rated very highly in competitions in Austria. In 2010 Austrian wine specialists Hahndorf Hill Winery in the #adelaidehills released their first and equally as good Gruner. In a decade and a half Aussie Gruner has gone from two boutique producers to over 50- mainly in the Adelaide Hills but also spread across the cooler regions of the country.

Today’s wine is the first Gruner from a big wine company that I have tasted. It is part of a project within Pernod Ricard, where by several winemaker were given carte-blanch to produce a small batch of wines “made to our own rules” rather than to corporate philosophy. The wine is ‘Aces & Arrows’ Adelaide Hills 2020 ‘Tim’s Gru-Ve’ It has the classic Gruner Veltliner bouquet of complex citrus aromas, the enticing palate has great depth of pears, lime & grapefruit flavours with a hint of herbs, reminiscent of a quality #Wachau (Austria)Gruner Veltliner.

This is an exciting, refreshing high quality wine, amply demonstrating the skill of its winemaker. This wine is currently on sale via the Coles Group outlets.

Have a great week and when possible enjoy #emergingvarieties

Cheers Dan T