Grüner Veltliner—pronounced Grew-ner Velt-LEE-ner—is a dry white wine beloved in Austria. Known for being an excellent option for even the most notoriously tricky food pairings, this varietal is grown in Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, and the Czech Republic, but over 75% of Grüner Veltliner wines come from Austria.
The flavor profile of this wine can vary depending on where it is grown, but most bottles will offer a profile that is predominately citrus, with notes of lime, grapefruit, lemon, and nectarine, with subtle notes of white pepper and herb. The most notable characteristic of this wine is its high, crisp acidity. This makes it a great pairing for most foods, but it does especially well with spicy dishes and rich, fatty foods.
Meat That Pairs Well With Grüner Veltliner
When it comes to meat, anything salty, fatty, or fried is going to be a hit with Grüner Veltliner. Think cured meats like bacon, peperoni, and pastrami, to name a few, or fried meat like Schnitzel or fried chicken. Grüner Veltliner is perfect for these meats as it balances the salt and cuts through the fat of these popular meats.
On the lighter side, Grüner Veltliner is an excellent wine to pair with raw fish. The light, crisp wine will not overpower the delicate flavors of the fish, and it will cool your tongue if you are eating sushi with wasabi.
Grüner Veltliner is also a perfect complement to the salty, smoky flavor of smoked fish, especially smoked salmon. It cleanses the palate after each bite leaving you with a clean finish.
Cheese That Pairs Well With Grüner Veltliner
Grüner Veltliner provides a perfect balance to soft, decadent, creamy cheeses like Brie, Buchette, and Coeur de Chevre. Serve it with your favorite meat and cheese tray.
Appetizers That Pair Well With Grüner Veltliner
Fried appetizers such as mozzarella sticks, jalapeno poppers, corn dogs, and fried pickles are great with a cold, crisp Grüner Veltliner. We also recommend fresh seafood-based appetizers like ceviche and oysters.
Vegetarian Dishes That Pair Well With Grüner Veltliner
You would be hard-pressed to find a vegetable that will not pair well with Grüner Veltliner. The herby notes and bold citrus of the wine make an ideal match with bell peppers, green beans, radish, cucumber, and endive. Asparagus and artichokes are notoriously difficult to pair with wine, but here Grüner Veltliner shines. You also can’t go wrong with light salads full of leafy greens and fresh ingredients.
Herbs That Pair Well With Grüner Veltliner
Grüner Veltliner has herbaceous notes of its own, so it naturally pairs well with a variety of herbs. Dill, mint, ginger, lemon and lime zest, and tarragon will all sing when paired with this wine.
Food That Does Not Pair Well With Grüner Veltliner
While Grüner Veltliner is a very food-friendly wine, there are some foods you will want to avoid when drinking this wine. Most red meats, like steak or pot roast, are not going to match well with this wine as it does not have the heft to hold up to the meat. Tomato sauces should also be avoided as the flavors tend to clash.
Best Foods to Eat With Grüner Veltliner
Spicy food, fried food, and raw fish are all enhanced by the acidity of Grüner Veltliner. The acid makes your mouth water, which cools the palate so you can go back for more of your favorite spicy food. It cuts through the fat of your favorite fried dish and rich cheeses, and offers the perfect balance to delicate raw fish.
- Mexican cuisine
- Thai cuisine
- Pork Schnitzel
- Charcuterie
- Sushi or Sashimi
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