Tasting note
Roland Velich is the man who elevated Blaufränkisch to world-class status – 95 Parker points as the first Austrian red wine, Falstaff Winemaker of the Year 2023, and counted by James Suckling among the nine best wineries in the world. The fact that he also makes Grüner Veltliner is an intriguing twist. And the name of the wine says it all: a serious wine from a gorgeous place. That is exactly how it tastes – cool, clear, with that straightforward tension familiar from Velich’s red wines. No opulent Veltliner laden with fat and tropical fruit, but a wine of structure and contour.
- Colour & appearance
- Pale, radiant lemon yellow with greenish reflections, clear and lively in the glass.
- Nose
- White pepper and apricot, alongside citrus zest, crisp apple and a fine hint of herbs and wet stone. More cool and restrained than lush – aromas you have to seek out rather than having them thrust upon you.
- Palate
- Lean and taut, with fine acidity carrying the wine from start to finish. Citrus fruit, a touch of peppery spice, plus a slightly salty, mineral note. The 13.5% alcohol is perfectly integrated; the wine feels poised, never heavy.
- Finish
- Long and precise, with a persistent peppery streak and a bitter almond edge that awakens thirst.
- Terroir & origin
- Burgenland – home to the Moric wines with which Velich has been proving since 2001 that this region can produce greatness. The name Sankt Georgen stands for a distinct village with its own character.
- Grape variety & vinification
- A single-varietal Grüner Veltliner from a house that relies on radical restraint in the cellar: a dry wine of remarkable directness.
- Food recommendations
- A classic with Wiener Schnitzel, superb with asparagus with hollandaise sauce, with grilled zander or with Asian dishes featuring ginger and lemongrass.
- Special features
- A white wine from a red wine estate – and one that shows Velich’s sense of style and origin does not depend on the grape variety. Cool, serious, independent: exactly what the label promises.
