While we usually try to stick to wines that we sell at ABC in these blogs, sometimes something comes our way that knocks us for a loop and we have to talk about it. That’s the way I feel about Jules Taylor Marlborough Grüner Veltliner 2011 from New Zealand.

            It came about like this – about a month ago I wrote about the delicious Jules Taylor Marlborough Pinot Gris 2010. In that blog I happened to casually mention that I would be interested in trying their Grüner Veltliner, a grape variety that I’m particularly fond of. Well, the good people at Jules Taylor Winery happened to read this and soon afterward I received a tweet in which they kindly offered to send me a bottle to sample. (You come across some of the nicest people in the wine business!)

            Grüner Veltliner is originally an Austrian grape variety and I have fond memories of traveling around Austria a few years back trying as many as I could. It’s beginning to have a cult following here at the moment – mostly in Manhattan and San Francisco, but that’s where these followings usually start. When I read recently that New Zealand was beginning to make Grüner as well I was intrigued. Yes, making wine from somewhat unusual grape varieties is always a gamble, but from what I’ve experienced of New Zealand’s aromatic whites it seemed to me to be a fascinating idea.

            I couldn’t wait to try it, but held off until the weekend – Father’s Day as it happened – in order to give the wine my full attention. I drank it outdoors because the wine just seemed so right for our beautiful Floridian weather. I became a fan with the first sip. It had a delicate but wonderfully perfumed aroma of peaches with pleasing floral notes. The stone fruit notes carried through on the palate with just a hint of mandarin, and a very rich, smooth mouthfeel. It was a true delight!

            So - is Florida ready to enjoy Grüner Veltliner from New Zealand? I truly hope so! All you Grüner fans, all you millions of fans of New Zealand wine – help me start the Revolution. Email me, tweet me – let me know what you think!

Bill Stobbs, ABC Wine Supervisor

(Follow me on Twitter at abcwinebills)