Swill or Swell: Episode 23

Winzer Krems Grüner Veltliner

watch the episode here

Welcome to Swill or Swell, a weekly series where I taste grocery store wines and let you know if they’re worth the buck or just meant for the drain! 

CAVEAT! As you read this, please keep in mind that wine is subjective! This means that everyone enjoys different things and something I like might not be something you like and vice versa. I’ll be as objective as I can with facts about the wine’s quality, but in the end if your opinion differs from mine...that’s perfectly fine! Wine is only worth drinking if YOU like drinking it!

LET’S INTRODUCE THE WINE

Today I’ll both be tasting a Grüner Veltliner from Austria. I purchased this bottle from Total Wine for $13.99, and was really excited about it!  This series is all about trying different wines. So, when I saw a grape varietal that we’ve yet to try on here, I just had to get it! Let’s dive in.

WINZER KREMS GRUNER VELTLINER FUN FACTS

Let’s start by talking about the Grüner Veltliner grape.

• This grape is grown almost entirely in Austria (about 75%). Other areas include Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the United States.
  
• The Grüner Veltline grape is considered to be the exotic alternative to Sauvignon Blanc.
  
• The name translates to “Green Wine of Veltlin”. Veltlin was an area in the lower Alps during the 1600’s that is now part of Valtellina, Italy.

Now let’s talk a little about the Niederosterreich region in Austria.

• Austria has three major wine growing regions. They are: Niederoesterreich (located in lower Austria), Burgenland, and Steiermark (Styria).
  
• In addition to these major wine regions, there are also 16 smaller wine regions.
  
• Niederoesterreich is the largest wine growing area in Austria. It consists of eight wine growing regions!
  
• The region is divided into three major climatic zones: cooler north, along the river, and warmer south.
  
• About 44% of wine grown here is Grüner.

WINE TASTING NOTES

Look: It’s a pale straw color.
Smell: It’s very aromatic! I’m getting a definite citrus note (lemon, grapefruit, white flowers, minerality). I also am getting this waterfall like smell. And there’s also this funk smell, that I just can’t quite put my finger on!
Taste:  WOW! I’m getting lots and lots of acidity. It’s to the point where my tongue is tingling. I might even say, too much acidity. Outside of acidity, I’m getting a light body, and medium- alcohol.
Think:
Food Pairing - This would be a great palate cleanser for richly flavored food (think anything fried). I’d say it would also pair nicely with pad thai or other dishes full of asian spices. This is also one of the only wines that could go well with asparagus.
Occasion - This wine definitely needs food with it. So, I would say a perfect occasion would be one that involves a gathering with lots of rich tasting food.
Rating - I want to like this! In my honest opinion, the acidity is just too much for my personal preference, and I wouldn’t see myself buying this again. So, I give this a swill.

Want to learn more? Check out my Instagram every Thursday at 5PM PST for a new episode of Swill or Swell! Have a wine you’d like me to taste? Write your request in the comments below or send me a message on Instagram!

Cheers!