Syrah / Shiraz is a dark black grape with a very thick skin, and depending on the soil and climate the flavors and tones will change greatly, creating distinct wines between their regions of origin. It’s worth noting that the vast majority of the world’s plantings of Syrah are located in France, primarily in the Rhone region which extensive DNA testing concluded is where the grape originated. Syrah and Shiraz are used interchangeably around the…
♜ Thomas N. Burg
Hi, I like you review – I’m very curious to learn about non-Austrian one – just let me add 2 things.
1) Grüner Veltliner is not green grape in German it is Grüner Veltliner as a proepr name (there are also non-related Frühroter Veltliner and a few more)
2) Also please be aware of the broad range of Austrian Grüner Veltliners, you can have the light with high acidity but also creamy with high extract and alcohol. More and more high-end producers are moving towards fermentation and maturation in big barrels
Cheers Thomas
PS: I’d like to learn more about US- Grüner Veltliner
Kris Chislett
Thanks for the comments Thomas!
1) I checked a couple of sources on the translation of the term “Gruner”, and I keep coming up with the same thing. Here are a few of my sources, unfortunately none of them are very “academic”:
http://www.the-wine-source.com/newsletters/unfiltered5-12.pdf
http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/05/gruner-veltliner-white-wine.html
http://www.winemcgee.com/blog/2010/02/10/wine-grape-varietals-chenin-blanc-dolcetto-gamay-gewurztraminer-granache-gruner-veltliner/
http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/wine/gruner-veltliner.asp
http://thehungariangirl.com/2010/05/21/gruner-veltliner-austrias-signature-white-wine/
http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definitions/Veltliner?cx=partner-pub-0939450753529744:v0qd01-tdlq&cof=FORID:9&ie=UTF-8&q=Veltliner&sa=Search#922
http://www.whitewine.co.uk/grapes/gruner-veltliner/
Not saying you’re wrong, because as I say none of these are sources are academic in nature.
2) Guessing I am yet to be exposed to the highly extracted Gruners!
Thanks again, and let me know if you have a better translation on the term Gruner.
♜ Thomas N. Burg
Hi Kris,
“Grüner” is of course green but Veltliner is not grape.
Here is a text on the history/origins of the GV (in German though) http://burg.cx/pages/geschichte-gruner-veltliner.
Cheers Thomas
Kris Chislett
Thanks Thomas! Appreciate the insight and you taking the time to comment. I find when it comes to wine that there is so much information available that’s it’s hard to pick through it all!