Really excited about getting into this Grüner Veltliner, one of the Granite Belt’s newest alternative varieties, or “Strangebirds” as they call them here. Once thought to be Riesling’s poorer sibling, Grüner tops many restaurant lists being a very food friendly wine. So Queensland restaurants now have no excuse not to stock local. It’s also got an umlaut in its name, so it’s also instantly cool.
A signature grape of Austria and starting to make headway in Australia, largely around the Adelaide Hills, it’s now here at Banca Ridge, part of the https://qcwt.com.au/banca-ridge/Queensland College of Wine Tourism, taking advantage of the Granite Belt’s cool climate and granitic soils to develop good acidity and minerality.
Floral peach blossom, pear, white peach, yellow apple and signature minerality on the nose. Crisp acidity, dry and medium bodied with more pear and peach coming through on the palate. Slightly warming alcohol at 13.5% ABV, highlighting the white pepper spice coming in on the back palate and on the finish.
A good Grüner with a distinctly Granite Belt twist, having wine Bronze at the recent Queensland Wine Awards. A bargain at AU$20 for a craft alternative variety. Get in.
Check it out:
Banca Ridge (at the QCWT): https://qcwt.com.au/banca-ridge/
Phone: +61 7 4685 5050
22 Caves Road, Stanthorpe QLD 4380, Australia [Google Maps]
Open: 7 days 10am-3pm
