By Rob Pickard
I was recently drinking with a friend whose knowledge on wine isn’t the greatest, but like many people out there, they know what they like and know what they don’t.
On said occasion we drank a bottle of Charming Gruner Veltliner from Laurenz V, and it is safe to say my friend was positively stunned. They were amazed at this little known grape variety, questioning why they had never come across it before. Another fan of the mighty Gruner has been born.
Gruner Veltliner has played a leading role in the revolution of Austrian winemaking over the past 15 years or so, and although it is still not quite as well recognised as the likes of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling, GV has made tremendous ground in the UK market.
Producing dry, fruity, (and usually) unoaked wines, Gruner offers a fantastic alternative to these varieties, and its popularity is only going to go one way as more and more people discover this fantastic grape.
Laurenz V are one of the producers who have changed the perception of Austrian winemaking in recent years by promoting GV and singing its praises worldwide. Lenz Moser is the brains behind Laurenz V and the brand’s name is ac recognition that he is the fifth generation of one of Austria’s most famous winemaking families.
As well as being the inventor of the first modern vine trellising system, Lenz’s grandfather popularised Gruner Veltliner, turning it from only 2% of Austria’s plantings in the 1930s, to the country’s national grape in just three decades. In keeping with the family love affair with GV, Laurenz V is the only wine company in Austria that focuses solely on Gruner Veltliner, making the team experts in the field.
Today’s wine in question, Charming Gruner Veltliner 2009, is Lenz’s top wine. the grapes are grown in Austria’s Kamptal region and they ripen on granite, gneiss, mica-slate and loess soils. Cold air from the north lowers nighttime temperatures to slow up the ripening process. This is all crucial to producing the concentrated style of Gruner that has been turning heads: fresh, fruity, spicy, appley and with just the right amount of acidity.
Check out the video below of Lenz and his beloved Charming GV -
Tags: austrian wine, Laurenz V, News, wine of the week
Charming really is sensational. So versatile, complex and importanly delicious.
Green apple, citrus, minerality and white pepper. Sounds strange but really works. One of the best food matches I’ve had was Charming with Sea Bream.
Good choice Mr Pickard.