It is one of the most important white wine varieties in the world and stands for large, long-lasting wines with enormous ripening and storage potential, although it only occurs in large plantations in a single country on just over 13,500 hectares - the Grüner Veltliner. In its home country of Austria, it is by far the most important white wine variety and can produce everything from light and fresh to great wines of almost Burgundian stature. Grüner Veltliner is a natural cross between Traminer and an unknown grape variety called St. Georgen, which was found and identified in the Leitha Mountains on Lake Neusiedl. Although it tends to ripen after a medium-long period, its stage of full maturity is still so late that it is not suitable for cooler locations, such as northern Europe. It prefers warmer climes and produces its best results with good yields on the barren primary rock terraces of the Wachau or on the more loess-containing soils in the Kamp and Kremstal. For top qualities, conscientious yield restrictions are recommended. It is particularly susceptible to powdery mildew, downy mildew and grape mites. Its steep rise began in the mid-1950s, when the Veltliner vineyards in Austria were converted to Lenz-Moser high cultivation. Although the name suggests it, Grüner Veltliner is not a member of the Veltliner family, which otherwise includes Roter Veltliner, Frühroter Veltliner, Zierfandler and Rotgipfler. The fact that the name is an indication of a possible origin from Valtellina has also been refuted. In addition to its home country of Austria, there are notable plantings in the Czech Republic, northern Hungary and Slovakia. Australia and New Zealand are starting to take an interest in Grüner Veltliner.
This grape variety is also known by the name of:
Bielospicak, Cima Bianca, Gruener Veltliner, Gruene Manhardsrebe, Gruen Muskateller, Feherhegyue, Feldlinger, Dreimaenner, Mauhardsrebe, Manhardsrebe, Manhardtraube, Manhartsrebe, Gruener Weissgipfler, Gruener Velteliner, Gruenmuskateller, Green Veltliner, Gruener, Gruener Muskateler, Ranfol Bijeli, Ranfol Weisser, Mouhardrebe, Mouhardsrebe, Plinia Austriaca, Valteliner Blanc, Valtelina Vert, Valtelin Blanc, Muskatel Zeleny, Nemes Veltelini, Valteliner Vert, Ranfol Bianco, Valteliner, Muskatel, Velteliner Gruener, Velteliner Vert, Velteliner Weisser, Veltelini Zoeld, Rdeci Veltinec, Zeleni Vetlinac, Weisser Velteliner, Weisser Valteliner, Zeleni Veltlinec, Weissgipfler Gruener, Weissgipfler, Weisser Veltliner, Zleni Veltinac, Reifler Weiss, Veltlin Zeleny’, Veltlinac Zeleni, Vetlinac, Veltlinec, Veltliner, Vetlinac Zeleni, Veltliner Blanc, Veltliner Grun, Veltliner Gruner, Veltliner Verde, Veltlini, Veltlinske Zelene, Zoeld Muskotaly, Zoeld Muskotalynak, Veltlinski Zelenii, Zoeld Veltelini, Veltlinsky Vert, Veltlinsky Zeleny, Zoeld Velteliny, Zeleny Muskatel, Zoeldveltelini, Zold Veltelini, Weisser Reifler, Yesil Veltliner
