In the Gruener Groove.

Despite being first planted in Australia in 2009 this little known traditional Austrian white varietal is still a very unknown white wine style here in Australia , today in Australia we have over 30 producers.

Regarded a " terroir sensitive" grape more so than Chardonnay or Riesling, Gruener thrives in climates where there are warm-hot days and cool nights, these conditions seem to provide the optimum growing conditions.

The main hub for Gruener Vetliner grown Australia is located in the Adelaide Hills , but it can be found in the Canberra Wine Region ( where the first plantings were made at lark Hill, Tamar Valley Tasmania (where the original cutting came from) and even here in the Hunter Valley NSW

Despite its rising plantings it is a wine that continues to fly under the radar. many wine consumers are unsure what this wine is all about.

Generally speaking it is a wonderfully aromatic wine more so than many Rieslings, what I love about this wine is the generosity of the flecks of white pepper , which collides with notes of green beans & pears, yellow apples and then rounds out with a truely evocative end note of fine fresh ginger.

Weight wise in your mouth it reflects similar to that of a young Semillon, Riesling & Sauvignon Blanc, light body weight & structure and definitely on the drier end of the sweetness spectrum.

It is elegant, crisp and refreshing but without sacrificing texture and complexity

The classic flavour profile is often described as having yellow grapefruit, spice and pepper notes, while an array of orchard fruits often chimes in, with ripeness dictating which ones feature in any given wine. More obtusely, various notes hovering around types of radish are common, with Jancis Robinson also citing “dill, even gherkin character” as being characteristic.

Gruener is widely accepted as being a wine that is best drunk young up to about 5 years but it certainly has the capacity to age well and become a more complex and interesting wine.

For me personally it those examples of Gruener that throw that ginger and white pepper characteristics that catch my attention as I believe that they are a truer style to that grown in Austria.

Gruener is capable of coping with large diurnal swings , coping well with long hot days and cool nights , I suppose that is why we can grow this here in the Hunter and I believe that our wines stack up very competitively against some of the bigger names from the Adelaide Hills.

If you are looking for good Hunter Gruener then you should be seeking out the Gruener made by the team at Hart and Hunter, coming in at cellar door at $35,00 per bottle this is a great value for a wine of this quality.

Gruener is the perfect food wine as well, pairing with spicy Asian styled dishes and curries , pork , salmon, veal and terrines this is a cracking and ever so refreshing white wine alternative especially for the warmer summer months ahead.

When you are over you Savvy Blanc, Semillon and Chardy here is my humble opinion to go to wine for Australian wine lovers this summer, come and join in the groove and get your Gruener on.

Happy drinking #hart&hunter

Cheers

Leigh