Grüner Veltliner & Food Pairings

Grüner Veltliner is the perfect white wine for grilled sausages loaded with sauerkraut & onions, BLT sandwiches smothered in mayo, pork schnitzel, smoked salmon, pasta tossed in pesto sauce, steamed asparagus, and potato leek soup.   Grüner Veltliner also pairs amazingly with notoriously difficult foods such as artichokes, bell pepper and asparagus.  Where other wines will fail and taste bitter, Grüner Veltliner makes these foods sing.

Crisp and clean, Grüner Veltliner notes of grapefruit, melon, green vegetables (pureed peas, celery paste, green herbs and grilled zucchini) and spicy white pepper.  Grüner Veltliner is also famous for its wet rock minerality that gives it a stony tang. When you combine all of these aromas, some claim the combination smells like fresh cat litter.

Grüner Veltliner is most famously produced in Austria, however the nearby countries of Hungary and the Czech Republic also make exceptional bottles.  Notable producers include Brunderlmayer, Hirtzberger, Nigl, Pichler, Prager, Undhof, and Schloss Gobelsburg.  There is a huge range in quality when it comes to Austrian Grüner Veltliner so if you’re new to the wine, do a bit of research, or ask around at your local wine shop for recommendations.

Best Food with Grüner Veltliner

Grüner Veltliner & Smoked Salmon Pairing

Grüner Veltliner is perfect for smoked fish, such as smoked salmon, as this citrusy and refreshing wine cuts through the saltiness, richness and smoky flavours of this dish, leaving you with a refreshing and clean finish.  This allows each bite of smoked salmon to taste as intriguing and fresh as the first bite, as Grüner Veltliner acts as a palate cleanser as it whisks all the salt, smoke and fattiness away.  Serve your smoked salmon with a side of leek and potato mash to further complement the green flavours of Grüner Veltliner.

For the similar reasons, Grüner Veltliner is exceptional with other smoked or cured meats, particularly bacon or ham. Grüner Veltliner is also an excellent match with seafood that have a bit of saltiness to it, such as Caviar.

BLT Sandwich & Grüner Veltliner Pairing

My favourite way to enjoy Grüner Veltliner is with a BLT sandwich slathered in mayonnaise. A BLT is a Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato sandwich served on toasted bread cut into four triangles and served with freshly cut French Fries. I’m not sure if it’s a regional thing only eaten in Canada, where it’s a favourite lunchtime staple.

The citrus notes and refreshing nature of Grüner Veltliner are the perfect foil against the salty bacon flavours of the BLT sandwich, while the tangy acidity of the wine won’t clash with the fresh slices of tomato.  Meanwhile, the white pepper notes of the wine turn this simple lunchtime staple into a meal fit for royalty.

Asparagus and Grüner Veltliner Wine Pairings

Asparagus is notoriously difficult to pair white wine with, as the sharp flavours of this vegetable makes most white wine taste bitter and sour.  Fortunately, due to its green nature, Grüner Veltliner is perfect with Asparagus and all other green vegetables. This white wine can easily befriend asparagus, or a peppery arugula and mescaline-based salad, sautéed mushrooms, potato leek soup, cauliflower soup, anything tossed in Pesto Sauce, or a grilled vegetable sandwich.

The reason why Grüner Veltliner works so well with Asparagus is that its high acidity jives perfectly with the green and bitter flavours of Asparagus.  Meanwhile, the pepper notes, along with stone fruit, citrus and green apple flavours add further complexity to this favourite springtime vegetable.

Grüner Veltliner & Sausage Pairing

Grüner Veltliner is excellent with Sausage, particularly bratwurst, or sausages loaded up with mustard, onions, peppers and sauerkraut. Being an acidic white wine, Grüner Veltliner holds up to the vinegar in the mustard, as well as the pungent flavours of the onions and sauerkraut.  Finally, instead of leaving you with sausage burps for the next couple of hours, Grüner Veltliner delivers refreshing notes of lime, lemon, peach, pear and grapefruit, which help keep your breath fresh.

Grüner Veltliner & Chicken Pot Pie Pairing

The aromas of melon, peach, pear and grapefruit found in Grüner Veltliner lift up the subtle flavours of the poultry in a Chicken Pot Pie, making the chicken morsels and out and seducing you further with their savoury charm. You’ll also get green vegetable flavours in this wine, such as green beans, pureed peas, grilled zucchini and fresh green herbs that complement any green veggies tossed into your pot pie. My homemade chicken pot pies always contain peas, as I love the marriage of peas and the savoury chicken gravy.

Furthermore, Grüner Veltliner has a unique white pepper flavour that will bring your Chicken Pot Pie to new heights. Meanwhile, the herbal and mineral notes of Grüner Veltliner are right at home with the savoury gravy and vegetable flavours in your Chicken Pot Pie.