This is my first wine to review in 2022, Bordertown Vineyards & Estate Winery Gruner Veltliner 2018. A BC wine coming from Osoyoos in the south Okanagan. Gruner Veltliner is not yet a commonly known white grape here in BC, but it should become more well-known. The grape is widely grown in Austria, as well as in Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. It reminds me a bit of a dry, zippy Riesling from the Claire Valley in Australia.
This grape has a very interesting pedigree, according to Wikipedia, “In 2007, DNA analysis confirmed that Grüner Veltliner was a natural crossing of Savagnin (Traminer) and an obscure Austrian grapevine from the village of Sankt Georgen am Leithagebirge located outside Eisenstadt in the Burgenland region of eastern Austria.
The vine was first found in 2000 in an overgrown part of a pasture in a location where there had not been any vineyard since the late 19th century, and is assumed to have been the last vine in this location for over a century...”. This grape may never have been discovered and widely planted if someone did not check that abandoned vineyard location!
My Wine Tasting Notes
Bordertown Vineyards & Estate Winery Gruner Veltliner 2018 (BC $22)
Appearance: A bright clear medium intensity lemon colour in the glass.
Nose: Medium-plus intensity aromas of lemon, peaches and apricots, white flowers, and a hint of petrol. With decanting I get the same aromas, plus also now I get oranges.
Palate: Dry and round but has a strong acidic edge that gives it a lighter mouthfeel. The acidity does start off with a prickle on your tongue but fades quickly. Pronounced flavours, mostly lemon and peach, with touches of lime and honey. Bright flavours. The wine continues to have high acidity that lightens up on the mid-palate with decanting. You now get mainly peach flavour, plus some honey and citrus. And you can add a touch of crisp apple toward the finish.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with tart citrus and peach flavours and apricots at the very end. Mouthwatering acidity on the finish. Same flavours with decanting along with crisp apple and some pepperiness.
This wine is nice whether you drink it upon opening or after decanting.
Rating: 
– 
A bright lemon colour. Medium-plus aromas of lemon, peach and apricots, white flowers and a touch of petrol. Dry with higher acidity. Pronounced tart, bright fruit flavours covering lemon and peaches primarily with lesser amounts of lime, honey and apricots. Some crisp apple and peppery flavours with decanting.
I tried this wine with Indian food from Agra Tandoori in Burnaby. How was the pairing? I purchased vegetable biriyani and mixed grill, which contained Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Tikka, Seekh Kebab, Prawns, Lamb Tikka, and Fish Tikka served with mint chutney. I liked the cumin flavour in the biriyani as it complimented the citrus and peach flavours in the wine. This wine is dry, but with these Indian dishes, the wine tasted a little off-dry, which was interesting and pleasant. The Tandoori chicken flavours went really well with the flavours in the wine, while the Seekh Kebab did not really mesh with the wine. I tried this pairing once upon opening the wine and then after decanting. The pepperiness in the wine after decanting came out more with the Indian dishes. An interesting pairing, but I would save it for Indian vegetarian and chicken dishes. I did not have any dishes with a cream sauce so cannot speculate on that pairing.
Where Can I Buy This Wine?
You can purchase this wine through Bordertown’s website. This wine may be available at private wine shops but you need to ask.
