05/20/2022
2019 Lulo Grüner Veltliner
Grüner Veltliner is the signature grape varietal of Austria. It's one of the darlings of the US white wine scene today, and the number of Grüner Veltliner vines thriving in US soil is growing. Per British wine critic Jancis Robinson, “Grüner Veltliner can produce wines which can combine both perfume and substance—typically dry, full, peppery or spicy.”
Our grower is a family-run operation that has been cultivating grapes in Monterey since 1972. They own an impressive spread of vineyard land that runs along a 70-mile spread of the Salinas Valley, which allows them to offer distinctly different fruit from the various microclimates within that 70-mile stretch. Well-known for their sustainable agricultural initiatives, all of their estate vineyards are officially certified by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.
Most important to us, the Monterey region wines deliver optimum value for the money. Similar to the Russian River Valley, we get ripe fruit with a nice balance of acidity, thanks to the cooling Pacific breezes and fog. The 2019 harvest yielded very high-quality grapes delivering explosive acidity in support of aromas and flavors of citrus over stone fruit and herbaceous white pepper.
To retain the purity of the fruit and keep the acidity and freshness in focus, we fermented everything in stainless steel—with no oak contact at all on the grapes. The final wine shows vibrant fruity and fresh aromas while the palate reveals a rich texture. This is a terrific wine to pair with a range of ethnic cuisine.
