A Tour of Wine Grapes: Gruner Veltliner

Gruner Veltliner

Grüner Veltliner (grew-ner felt-lee-ner) is a white wine grape that is prodomanatly grown in Austria, accounting for more than a third of the country’s total vineyard area with Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic being the other significant growers.

Often just referred to as “Grüner,” this wine is typically low in body, tannin and sweetness but high in acidity. But, being a very versatile grape, it can also produce wines that are rich and full-bodied.

Key flavors of wines produced from Grüner Veltliner grapes includes lime, lemon and grapefruit. But, most famously, it has spicy, herbal notes of white pepper, radish and lentils. Bet you haven’t had a wine with notes of lentil before!

Grüner Veltliner is one of the few white wines that can be incredibly age-worthy, though its longevity depends heavily on the style. Everyday versions are meant for early consumption while high-quality productions can age for 10 to 30 years or more!

Grüner Veltliner wines should be served cold (45 to 55 F) in a white wine glass. No decanting required.

Behind the Cork™ - Easton Zinfandel

2016 Easton Zinfandel ($18)

Easton Wines was founded in the late 80s by husband and wife team Bill Easton and Jane O’Riordan.

Bill puts his family name, EASTON, on their non-Rhône varietal wines. The wines are crafted from varietals that have traditionally worked the best in Amador County and the Sierra Foothills.

This wine was produced from 100% Zinfandel vines grown in Amador County that are from 20-80 years old. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and was aged for 11 months in 10% new French oak barrels.

Easton’s Zinfandel style typically emphasizes acidity and spice over "jamminess." This wine has been described as having aromas of blackberry, raspberry and black pepper. Unfortunately, although this 2016 vintage bottle has been stored in a wine refrigerator in a darkened room, it showed some definite garnet color and muted fruit flavors - signs of premature oxidation. It seems that this bottle moved past its "secondary" stage of aging and went straight into "tertiary" phase (dried leaf, leather, earth) much faster than I expected. It should hold up for 10 to 15 years.

So, while this bottle didn’t hold up well, I still believe that Amador County produces great wines, Zinfandel and Barbera especially. So, I’ll be giving Easton Wines another try real soon. Cheers.

A Tour of Wine Grapes: Grenache

Grenache 🍷

Grenache (grenn-nosh) is also known as Garnacha in Spain.

More than 90% of Grenache is grown in either France or Spain, with Italy and the U.S. making up much smaller fractions.

Grenache is used in the French Rhone GSM blends (Grenache, Syrah & Mouvedre) and in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

It is said that in the 17th and 18th centuries, before strict French wine laws (AOC) existed, Burgundian merchants often illegally blended high-alcohol Grenache from the Rhône into their Pinot Noir to give it more "body" and color.

Wines made from the Grenache grape are medium to medium-high in body with medium-low tannin and acidity.

Typical notes include red fruits such as strawberry, raspberry and cherry with some spice notes such as white pepper, cinnamon and anise. Oak aging can impart leather, tar and tabacco leaf flavors.

Despite its low acidity, Grenache wines can age 3-5 years with the premium Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines being age worthy from 10 to 20 years.

Grenache should be served in a red wine glass at 60-68 F. Decant 30 minutes before serving.

Behind the Cork™ - Gundlach Bundschu Sonoma Mountain Cuvee

2019 Gundlach Bundschu Sonoma Mountain Cuvée ($18)

For six generations and over 160 years, the Bundschu family has farmed the Rhinefarm estate vineyard at the crossroads of the Sonoma Valley, Carneros and Napa Valley appellations.

Mountain Cuvée honors the Bordeaux blends of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Gundlach Bundschu sources it grapes from vineyards up against the Mayacamas Mountain range.

For the Merlot, they seek grapes that ripen well and have an expressive personality and consistency. Then they look for the Cabernet Sauvignon to provide a darkness to the wine. They source the fruit from only two growers within 2 miles of their estate to create the Cuvée, or blend.

During the winemaking process, they blend vineyard blocks together, evaluate and then create an appropriate oak-aging program, averaging 14 months in duration, primarily in French oak.

This Gundlach Bundschu Mountain Cuvée is deep purple in color with soft aromas of deep black fruit, herbal hints and a touch of caramel from the oak aging. On the palate, this full-bodied wine is rich with black fruit flavors, including plum, with coco and coffee notes from the oak. It finishes balanced, soft and smooth.

This is yet again a wine that I wish I’d picked up more than one! It’s a delicious blend that’s affordable and attainable. That make’s it a perfect fit as the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

A Tour of Wine Grapes: Gewurztraminer

Gewürztraminer

Gewürztraminer (guh-VURZT-tra-mee-ner) has been around for centuries in Europe and prized for its wines with intense floral aromas.

Its name is derived from the German word "Gewürz," meaning "spice" or "perfumed," reflecting its bold fragrance. And, the grape is a mutation of the ancient Traminer (Savagnin Blanc) variety.

Today, Gewürztraminer is grown throughout the world with Argentina and Moldova being the largest producers followed by Italy, U.S., Ukraine and Australia.

While Gewürztraminer grapes produce white wine, the grapes have distinctive pink to reddish skins. This often gives the wine a golden-copper color compared to other whites.

Gewürztraminer wines tend to be medium to low in body, low in acidity, but have a higher level of perceived sweetness even when all the sugar has been converted to alcohol through fermentation.

Aromas sometimes attributed to Gewürztraminer include soap, potpourri, or cheap perfume because of its bold floral aromas. But, most agree the aromas are most like lychee and rose petals.

Gewürztraminer is associated with flavors of grapefruit, apricot and tangerine and often has a oily or viscous mouthfeel.

Because of Gewürztraminer’s low acidity, it should be consumed young and typically only keeps for 2-5 years.

Serve Gewürztraminer ice cold (38-45 F) in a white wine glass. No decanting required.