Getting Down with Grüner Veltliner

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love in San Francisco, we are getting down with the grooviest grape of all Grüner Veltliner, and sharing the secret of this hidden gem of the wine world.

Dieter Hübler & Monique Soltani at Scoma’s

With only one percent of the world wine production, Austria is one of the smallest wine growing countries in Europe. 32 percent of all vineyards in the country are Grüner Veltliner, making Grüner Veltliner Austria’s most well known grape. Yet the green (grüner) grape still remains an undiscovered treasure for many wine lovers here in the United States.

In this video, Wine Oh TV’s Monique Soltani heads to Scoma’s in San Francisco and shares a sip with Dieter Hübler Co-founder and Owner of LAURENZ V.. LAURENZ V. is the first and pretty much the only producer in Austria and the world to focus entirely on Grüner Veltliner. Far Out!!!

In case there is anyone on the planet who has never heard the term Far Out before, the good folks at Urban Dictionary offer up this definition:

Urban Dictionary: far out: When something is cool, you say Far Out! Often used by hippies.

Here are some more Far Out facts!

Laurenz V. Facts

• With 900 years of tradition & innovative spirit, Laurenz V. represents five generations of winemaking experience by the Laurenz Moser family

• Owned and managed by founding partners Dieter Hubler and Franz Schweiger, this dynamic duo has remained fully committed to act in the values of Austrian wine pioneer Dr. Lenz Moser III

• Dr. Lenz Moser III, who is known as “Grandpa Grüner”, invented the innovative “Lenz Moser Trellising System” in the early 1930s with Grüner as the ideal white grape variety

• Based in Kamptal, Laurenz V. is known for its beautiful landscape, distinctive terroir as well as magnificent wines

• Strictly Gruner – the winery only produces Gruner Veltliner, the flagship white grape variety of Austria

• Portfolio consist of five wines all made from Gruner: Charming, Friendly, Forbidden, Four and Singing

• Charming is the flagship wine produced from the top 35 vineyards plots in the Kamptal region, resting on lees for 8 months before bottling

• Friendly is the “second vin” ideal for pairing with food – a restaurant’s favorite wine with a soft juicy palate ideal for a variety of dishes

• Forbidden is a Gruner “our fathers use to know” – the wine’s light residual sugar and low alcohol make this special white wine seductive and “forbidden”

• Four is the limited “Barrique Edition” of Gruner dedicated to Laurenz Moser IV as he would age his wine in French barriques back in 1979

• Singing is the perfect introduction wine to the portfolio with lively and harmonious fruit notes that “sings” on the palate

Scoma’s Fun Facts

• In 1965, brothers Al and Joe Scoma bought a small coffee shop on the Wharf that would later be known as Scoma’s

• The tiny, six-stool coffee shop on Pier 47 was first used to serve local fishermen breakfast and burgers using their mother’s recipes

• Scoma’s has always been committed to supporting local fishermen and renovated Pier 47 to fit their needs

• Al Scoma always believed in working hard, enjoying life and being the best in the business

• His restaurant operating experience began in the late 1950s as one of the original six partners in  Castagnola’s Restaurant on Fisherman’s Wharf

• In 1979, Al Scoma purchased a 46-foot fishing boat that continues to be used and licensed for the annual salmon and crab seasons

• In 1993, Al came up with the “pier to plate” concept – he decided to build Scoma’s its own fish receiving station

• In 2005, Newsweek Magazine recognized Scoma’s for having one of the best clam chowder recipes in the country Believing in family being the root of a successful business, Al enlisted daughters, nieces, nephews and, his son-in-law Tom Creedon (who is now President of Scoma’s) to build his business and carry on his legacy