Lagler Gruner Veltliner Federspiel Burgberg 2011 750ml

Winery: Lagler

Varietal: Gruner Veltliner

The highly versatile Gruner Veltliner varietal grapes have been grown for many centuries in central and eastern European countries, and are still widely drunk and celebrated around Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Whilst they are not seen much elsewhere around the world, in recent years they have been cultivated in certain parts of the United States and in a few other New World countries. These pale skinned grapes grow most successfully in cooler climates, and are popular with wineries due to the fact that they are relatively hardy and resistant to disease. Gruner Veltliner grapes are also much appreciated for the fact that they hold some unique flavors which come about because they express their terroir very well, and are often most commonly associated with flavors of citrus fruits, peaches and peppery, tobacco notes.

Region: Wachau

When it comes to the wines of Austria, it is widely considered that the finest by far are those which come out of the grand and elegant Wachau region in the south of the country. Wachau has been an important wine producing region for over two thousand years, and was originally used by the Romans, who noticed its fine potential for producing characterful and flavorful white and red wines. Wachau benefits enormously from the beautifully sunny and warm climate which it shares with western Hungary, and the ancient and impressive river Danube which runs through it, bringing minerals and much needed nutrients to the vineyards. As such, the Gruner Veltliner and Riesling grapes which cover most of the region's vineyards are able to express some interesting features of their fine terroir, as they ripen slowly and fully under the sun each year.

Country: Austria

All over the flat parts of the country in eastern Austria, Grüner Veltliner grapevines can be found growing to full ripeness under the blazing summer sunshine the country enjoys. For over four thousand years, Austria has been an important location for wine production, with a strong sense of tradition driving the modern wine industry to this day. Now, the country has over fifty thousand hectares under vine, and wineries are beginning to experiment more and more with imported grape varietals such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, alongside the traditional vines associated with the country. Austria is most commonly known for their excellent dry white wines, which are extremely elegant and generally capable of expressing their fine terroir, making it a fascinating country to explore from a wine drinker's perspective.