Paul Direder Gruner Veltliner Liter 23

I've always thought of Austrian wine as the crossroads of European wine. Austrian vignerons draw from a fantastic blend of inspiration from France and Italy in the West, as well as the great wines of Eastern Europe. Grüner Veltliner, Austria's most important varietal, reigns supreme in vineyards across the country and has enjoyed a worldwide explosion in popularity during the last twenty years. 

I'm particularly fond of the whites and reds from Austria's Wagram wine. The Wagram is located in Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) and extends 40 miles northwest from Vienna towards the city of St. Pölten. Wagram terroir provides perfect growing conditions for the iconic Grüner Veltliner, yielding rich, full-bodied white wines with a distinctive creamy texture and subtle notes of white pepper.

Paul Direder is a dynamic young winemaker in the Wagram. Paul began his adventure in the Austrian wine world at a very young age, taking charge of his family's winery, shifting the focus towards quality, sustainability, and eventually organic certification. Young Paul's journey in winemaking was additionally influenced by Austrian wine kingpin Tony Bauer, who provided mentorship and guidance, helping Paul fine-tune production in the vineyard and winery.

Paul Direder's wines first came to our attention when he visited the shop some years ago, accompanied by importer Klaus Wittauer. Since that memorable introduction, we have been fans of Paul's wines, and we're delighted to reintroduce them to AWM customers.

In your glass, Paul D Grüner Veltliner opens with vibrant aromas of green apples, ripe pear, and a classic hint of white pepper, typical of the Grüner Veltliner varietal. It's crisp and refreshing with a zesty acidity that dances deftly between lemony citrus and peachy stone fruits. This smooth white pairs beautifully with light salads and fresh seafood, and it's great with spicy Asian and Indian dishes.