This wine is fire. I am so excited to finally find a California Grüner that I love, and that showcases the varietal so wonderfully. Opening with light beeswax, nectarine, white tea, lime and galangal, the mouthfeel is zippy and full of energy. The palate shows fennel pollen, apricot, tarragon and white pepper. Savory and citrus driven, this wine is balanced and focused, showcasing both the excellent fruit source and outstanding winemaking.
This fruit was whole cluster pressed and fermented in stainless steel tanks for 5.5 months. It is unfined and crossflow filtered for clarity, so vegan. 141 cases produced.
2021 Ottavino Grüner Veltliner
$35.00
75% of the worlds Grüner is grown in Austria, with the remaining 25% spread over the rest of the world. The earliest plantings of Grüner in the US that I can find are from 1988 at Illahe Vineyards in Oregon. Since then it has been planted around British Columbia, Oregon and California in small amounts. Grüner has made its way to the Eastern US and is being widely planted around the Finger Lakes and Niagara regions. The fruit for this vineyard comes from Richard Alfaro’s vineyard in the Corralitos area of the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. Situated less than 5 miles from the Pacific, the side has sandy soils and the maritime influenced climate allows for a long ripening period.