2020s land from organic vines of Weinviertel superstar Ingrid Groiss
It really does seem like only yesterday that Ingrid Groiss waltzed, cheery and sprite-like, into the CellarHand portfolio. 2015 was in fact the first vintage we shipped from this then up-and-coming star of the Weinviertel.
Here we are welcoming her sixth vintage ashore, and Ingrid is firmly established as a favourite here in Australia. She’s regarded internationally as perhaps the brightest light of the sprawling wine-growing region where she wields her magic. The estate, since certified organic, continues to turn out wines of remarkable prettiness, purity and subtle textures.
The three 2020 labels will be familiar to you. We have the great-value Grüner Veltliner from her home village of Breitenwaida; the 17-variety Gemischter Satz; and the single-vineyard rosé with the evocative name: Hasenhaide, or “garden of the hares”.
After a year where gaiety has been all too scarce, it’s time to rejoice in Groiss and the unbridled pleasure f Ingrid’s wines.
2020 Groiss Grüner Veltliner $30
100% Grüner Veltliner from calcareous loess and ferruginous soils. Selectively hand harvested in September and October in several steps. Eight hours’ maceration on the skins. Gently pressed without stems and fermented with a combination of vineyard and neutral yeasts. Aged on the full lees in stainless steel tank. Alcohol 12.5%, RS 1.8g/L; acidity 6.5g/L.
White pepper, crushed sage and a touch of citrus promise savouriness. The palate delivers with full-on white pepper spiciness, slender freshness and lovely, pithy, salty, yeasty texture. This is a little pepper bomb full of life and verve. The finish is dry and appetizing. A wine that is always inviting and animating to drink and to enjoy all day long! – Ingrid Groiss
2020 Groiss Gemischter Satz $32
Gemischter Satz is a wine from different grape varieties that are grown together in a single vineyard. The grapes are hand-harvested together and are also processed together. It’s the most traditional way of planting in Austria. Among the varieties in Ingrid Groiss’s Gemischter Satz are Chardonnay, Müller Thurgau, Welschriesling, Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Grauburgunder, Pinot Blanc, Frühroter Veltliner, Neuburger, Zierfandler, Rotgipfler, Sämling, Roter Veltliner, Grauer Vöslauer, Hietl Rote, Weiße Vöslauer and Silberweiße. The soils are calcareous conglomerate.
Selective hand harvesting in October. Ten hours’ maceration on the skins. Gentle pressing without stems before spontaneous fermentation. Aged on full lees in stainless steel tank till bottling in February 2021. Alcohol 12.5%; RS 2.9g/L; acidity 7.1g/L.
2020 Groiss Hasenhaide Rosé $30
Hasenhaide means “garden of the hares” – it’s the vineyard where the grapes come from. A blend of Pinot Noir and Zweigelt from soils of crushed rock with chalk. The bunches were selectively hand harvested over several passes. The grapes were given eight hours of skin contact before gentle pressing. Kept on the lees until bottling. Fermented and raised in stainless steel. Alcohol 12.5%; RS 1.9g/L; acidity 6.9g/L.
Everything about this wine is tender: the soft pink colour, the subtle nose of berries, the gentle lemon freshness. This is lovely, light and ever so fresh. – Ingrid Groiss