Photo by VIVC - Vitis International Variety Catalogue
Description
Grüner Veltliner is Austria's leading white grape, grown mostly around and north of Vienna, and also important in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary. DNA work identifies Savagnin (Traminer) as one parent; the other is still unknown. Its wines range from light and peppery to rich and full-bodied, with notes of stone fruit, citrus and herbs and the white pepper the variety is famous for.
Characteristics
White wine grape; small, well-filled to compact bunches; small seeded berries; early budburst; ripens slightly after Chardonnay; vigour and yield vary by site (moderate in Australia, high in Pennsylvania trials); average downy and powdery mildew susceptibility; good botrytis tolerance
Growing Tips
Grüner buds early, at about the same time as Chardonnay, so keep it off frost-prone low ground. In Austria it is usually cane-pruned on the tall Lenz Moser trellis. On fertile sites it can be vigorous and heavy-cropping; Penn State researchers have trialled early leaf removal around the bunches. Mildew susceptibility is average, but it handles botrytis bunch rot well.