This is the antithesis to the Montes wine I wrote up below. Gruner Veltliner is Austria’s most famous grape and definitely one of its greatest. It is also indigenous to Austria and you won’t find Gruners made anywhere else in the world. Gruner produces wines with great acidity, and stark personality. These wines can provide a huge range of experiences, from nutty and oaky to clean, lean, and sharp. Gobelsburg is located in Lower Austria in the region of Kamptal, and this wine is as dry as you would expect of a classic Austrian white. It is also made with purchased fruit, but that doesn’t seem to matter in the hands of wine maker Michi Moosbrugger.

This is the sort of wine that works with things. Grab some sushi and a bottle, or maybe some grilled fish or chicken. Into beer? Basically anything that works with dry lager will also work exceptionally well with this wine. This offers tremendous aromatics for something at this price point – citrus, stone, honey, and a little toast. On the palate this is dry as heck and has an almost oxydized edge to it. It also tastes like lemon, stone, and some round apple fruit. Why can’t all wine be this refreshing? Tart, alive, and superb value. Why can’t more wine makers understand the beauty of acid, and the distorting character of over-ripe wines that can’t carry their alcohol? I could drink this all the time. The Montes? Not so much.

Very Good+ and Highly Recommended Value
$20 at BCLDB; $23 at Taphouse Liquor Store