grüner veltliner
Sta. Rita hills (2023)
The grüner veltliner varietal
Grüner Veltliner (pronounced GREW-ner VELT-leaner) is a white grape varietal that is most associated with Austrian wine, and is believed to have originated after two grapes - St. Georgener and Traminer (or Savagnin, by some accounts) - were crossed in the Niederösterreich region of Austria. While virtually unheard of outside of Austria only a few decades ago, it is now a global star thanks to its vibrant acidity, nuanced flavors that pair well with food, and approachable price point.
VOON Grüner Veltliner packs a punch of mouth-watering acidity, an underlying minerality from the rocky soils of the Sta. Rita Hills (more details on that below!), subtle herbaceous and pepper notes, and a light body that pairs with a wide range of foods.
It’s perfect for a warm Spring day, a hot Summer day… or any time, really. We recommend pairing it with an appetizer in a coursed-out meal, or as a welcome drink when hosting.
Introducing wine drinkers to lesser-known, world-class varietals is one of the raisons d’être for VOON, and we’re so excited to share this Grüner Veltliner with you.
The Sta. Rita Hills AVA
The Sta. Rita Hills (pronounced “Santa Rita Hills”) is an incredible AVA right off the Pacific Ocean near Santa Barbara, California.
Very young by wine standards, the Sta Rita Hills were first planted ~50 years ago, and only became an official AVA (American Viticultural Area) in 2001. However, it is very quickly gaining international recognition as one of the most exciting wine AVAs in the United States, which is why we chose it for VOON.
The region is so unique because it is framed by two transverse (east to west) mountain ranges that end at the Pacific Ocean. Cold air blows directly off the ocean and is funneled inland between the two ranges, dramatically cooling what would otherwise be a very warm mediterranean climate. The Sta Rita Hills AVA is the closest that grapes will grow to the ocean.
The soil is also perfect for wine, and very unique. Called diotomaceous earth, the soil in the Sta Rita Hills AVA is a marine soil with very little nutrients for wines, and elevated calcium levels (not unlike the limestone soils of other famous wine regions).
The combination of the moderating influence of the ocean climate, the poor nutrition of the marine soils, and the warm California sun which extends the growing period are what make the Sta Rita Hills the perfect AVA for cool-climate varietals like Grüner Veltliner.
The vineyards
This Grüner Veltliner is a blend from two different organically-farmed vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills, Fiddlestix Vineyard and another organic vineyard we cannot name.
Fiddlestix Vineyard exists on land that was formerly a flower farm, right off Santa Rosa Road. Fog hangs over the vines every morning, with coastal breezes cooling the afternoons to enable long, sunny days that never get too hot. Fiddlestix Vineyard is farmed organically.
Our unnamed vineyard was planted in 2014, and is one of the highest elevation vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills, at 900 feet above sea level. The vineyard is CCOF certified organic.
We’re honored to be working with both vineyards.
the winemaking
At VOON, we believe that the varietal (in this case Grüner Veltliner) and the terroir should be the star. As a result, we intentionally take a minimal approach to winemaking.
These grapes were hand-harvested on two different mornings in October, 2023 in the early hours of the day. We used native yeasts for fermentation, performed daily pump overs during fermentation, and then aged the wine in a mix of neutral oak and stainless steel for four months before bottling.
Please serve VOON’s Sta. Rita Hills Grüner Veltliner chilled (50° - 55° F is ideal) in a stemmed wine glass with a large bowl for the optimal nose, taste, and overall enjoyment.