Riesling & Gruner Veltliner - Austrian whites

Austrian Whites Mixed 6 pack $275 + free freight (value $288) - contains 1 each of the wines below (3 Riesling, 3 Gruner Veltliner)

Austria produces superb dry rieslings. Somewhat on account of the continental climate and complete absence of botrytis, they are richly flavoured and structured wines. Minerality rubs shoulders with sweet citrus and stone fruits (particularly apricots) to round out the flavours.

Gruner veltliner (pronouced 'grooner velt-leaner'), which represents more than a third of Austria's vineyard plantings, is hard to describe but much easier to drink - somewhat akin to riesling with the best aromatics of pinot gris and a touch of the weight of chardonnay. Jancis Robinson describes the wines as 'combining perfume and substance, not unlike some Alsace in style'.

2013 Stadt Krems Riesling Schieferterassen (Kremstal): With over 550 years of history, Weingut Stadt Krems is one of the oldest wine producers in Austria, and even Europe as a whole. Typically minerally but fruity with a bouquet of apricots and peaches.

2013 Prager Riesling ‘Steinriegl’ (Wachau): Toni Bodenstein uses all stainless steel, and it’s all very clean and high-tech at Prager. An icon of the new Austria and innovative is his approach; Toni has been in control of winemaking since the early nineties and has positioned the Prager estate as one of the very top echelon.The Prager vineyard comprises some of the most extreme sites in Austria, the wines are pure, precise and intense.

2016 Groiss Auf der Henne Riesling (Weinviertel): Vines of more than 30 years age on soils of white gravel. Spice, cumquat, white pepper, orange rind. Outstanding intensity. Dry/rich.

2016 Dom Wachau Kaiserberg Gruner Veltliner (Wachau): Superb balance and classic mineral character. Vibrant flavours but with textural mouth-feel.

2017 Franz Hirtzberger Steinfeder Gruner Veltliner (Spitz, Wachau): Spitz is at the cooler, western end of the Wachau. Thirty year old vines on alluvial sub-soils and Danube gravels create a balanced, delicate and refreshing style.

2016 Brundlmayer Kamptal Terrassen Gruner Veltiner (Kamptal): Considered by Andreas Larsson, the World Champion Sommelier for 2007, as the No 1 domain in all of Austria, Brundlmayer is also one of the world's great white wine producers. A blend of different terraced vineyards.Yeasty with hazelnut, greengage, pear and white pepper.