Back in September, we had a fantastic night tasting East Coast Gruner Veltliner. I was waylaid by commitments. Trying desperately to catch up on my backlog. We had sme very special participants. Sarah Troxell from Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Ian Bearup from Millbrook Vineyards & Winery, Jim Quarella from Bellview Winery, and Ryan William from Ryan William Vineyard. All were great wines!!! This group spoke on the record on the DRINKING ON THE EDGE podcast, which is found on Rhinebeck Free Radio with host David Furer.
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David Furer and Carlo DeVito explore the recent developments
of Austria's signature grape throughout the eastern US with
Galen Glen's Sarah Troxell-Rhodes in Pennsylvania and
Bellview's Jim Quarella in New Jersey.
What was really fascinating was that the Gruners were grown all over the East Coast. One from New Jersey, one from the Finger Lakes, one from Pennsylvania, and one from the Hudson Valley. It's proof how Gruner Veltliner is really taking off on the east coast. It's grows well, and easilly. It prospers up and down the coast. And in different climes. Also, the acidity was solid and flavor very strong. All to say, that this was a lovely group that only touches the large group of wineries now growing this variety in vineyards on this side of the country. There are also good ones coming from Massachusetts, Ohio, Virginia, Long Island. and many other places.
Jim Quarella's Belleview Winery offered up this Gruner Veltliner 2022 with a big mouthfeel, exceptional ripeness, lovely nose, and great finish. A testament to the development of winemaking in New Jersey which is producing some terrific quality wines these days. Jim is a prolific and well known grower in the state, and their wines is a good one.
Charles Quarella
Sarah Troxell and her husband Galen, have been running Galen Glenn for sometime in Pennsylvania these days. From the very beginning, they staked claim to Riesling and Gruner Veltliner, and have produced one of the best GVs in the United States today. Light, bright, aromatic, and zippy, it is easily every bit the varietal wine that best exemplifies this grape. A terrific wine, that is a standard bearer for this varietal wine in North America. Something very, very special.
Ryan and Simiara William produced a lovely, light, aromatic Gruner Veltliner in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Crisp and clean with a zippy citrus ending, this wine was absolutely a hot at our tasting. There are many planting of this variety in the Finger Lakes.
Simiara and Ryan William
Winemaker Ian Bearup's Gruner Veltliner, from Millbrook Vineyards, was very, very impressive. Located in the Hudson Valley, this wine was an absolute delight. Great fruit, great flavor that lingered, good acidity and nose, this wine was a true pleasure to drink.
Ian Bearup
In all, there was no question that East Coast Gruner Velltliner, the signature white wine grape of Austria, has found a new home on these distant shores - and has begun an entirely new life. And a good one, at that. You should be drinking East Coast Gruner Veltliner!
David Furer, host