2018 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"Dry but with body. Looking forward to trying the 2019 vintage"
Mr Keith Mantell (24-May-2020)
"Really nice GV. Very smooth and well rounded. I’d give it 5; but the society’s exhibition GV pips it. Very good value for money and I’ll buy again."
Mrs Helen Fitzpatrick (04-Jan-2020)
"Some Gruner Veltliners can be rather sharp. This wine is light and delicious, so much so that my wife and I finished the whole bottle with a light lunch to begin the New Year. Ignore all the other reviews!!"
Mr Michael A Storey (03-Jan-2020)
"Its not what it was a few years ago. But i suppose at £8.50 you get what you pay for. Imho its getting very close to a Vinho Verde...and thats not a recommendation."
Mr James Brown (26-Nov-2019)
"Ignore the reservations expressed by others. This is a splendid, idiomatic G V and good value for money."
Bernard T Hawcroft Esq (09-Nov-2019)
"Nose of apples and pears (less so), some amount of fizz, easy drinking. Not much towards complexity as would be expected for this price point."
Mr Benjamin Liew (27-Oct-2019)
"Not what I was expecting from this wine at all, compared with previous years, in fact the fizz and light bland taste made me think there was something wrong with it so I opened another bottle to check and it’s the same. I now have two fizzy bottles with one glass full taken out. Oh well, I must look for another pre-dinner more flavourful label. "
Mrs Margaret Biss (29-Sep-2019)
"Definitely fruity. A little bit of fizz. Pleasant enough. A friend absolutely loved it, but not for me. "
Mr David J B McKee (05-Aug-2019)
"Immanuel says not worth any thought, but pleasant.
Prob not to order again."
Mr Immanuel von Bennigsen (04-Aug-2019)
"Light and simple but perfectly pleasant.
Pear & white pepper as described with a little pear blossom.
Medium (-) all around with M(-) intensity and a M(-) finish. Very surprised to note some spritz in the wine"
Mr Simon Heape (13-Jul-2019)
"We were disappointed with this and found it rather sweet and unappealing. I would rather spend more money on the Exhibition GV"
Mr Patrick Aschan (09-Jul-2019)
"Lovely, fresh , balanced and fruity wine. A zip iof acidity ,pear aroma and a white pepper note .A long finish and goes well with mild curries.Tastes more expensive than it is."
Mr Paul Davies (05-Jul-2019)
"I really like this wine as an every day drinking wine. A lovely balance of flavours and pairs well with vegetarian and fish dishes. "
Ms Joan Ransley (20-Jun-2019)
"Perfectly acceptable but not as complex as many other G.V.s - felt a little flat. Nothing wrong with it, just a little underwhelming "
Prof Michael Simmons (21-May-2019)
"This wine is excellent and very well-priced for the quality. "
Mr Robert Hooper (12-May-2019)
2017 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"A very enjoyable, every-day white wine that is seriously easy to drink. Aromas of pear drops and apple, then zippy stone fruit and that distinct hint of white pepper on the palate. A light wine, but one where bright acidity has a pleasing nutty edge. This makes it is a great choice for both lighter dishes as well as barbecues."
Mr John-Paul Featherstone (18-Jul-2019)
"A very smooth example of this refined wine .Well balanced and a great weekday alternative to PG or SB. Easy drinking and light bodied.I do rate [another merchant's] Gruner Veltner, but this wine is more balanced."
Mr Paul Davies (06-Apr-2019)
"easy drinking, dry with hint of fruitiness. impressed with this wine and would definitely buy again/add to my list of 'go to' wines under £10"
Mr Simon P Walsh (02-Apr-2019)
"Dry to medium, light, vibrant, delicate, very delicate. Blink and you’ll miss it, but what a thing once you pay attention. I’ll buy again."
Mr John Cunningham (22-Mar-2019)
Mr John Cunningham (22-Mar-2019)
"I realise I am in the minority here but I am struggling to find something positive to say about this wine. It was probably the most uninteresting bottle of wine I have drunk for a very long time. It left me cold and wondering how the Society could put their name to such an uninteresting wine. "
Mr Charles Whitehead (10-Mar-2019)
"This is a lovely wine. This vintage just as good as the 2916. Great balance of fruit and acidity. Very easy drinking. "
Mr Tom Rodger (07-Mar-2019)
"Sometimes you just want a nice light white - nothing too complex - just an easy to enjoy wine. This ticks that box for me. Very enjoyable and has now been added to my shopping list"
Ms Louise Kennedy-McGregor (11-Feb-2019)
"Exactly as described by WS, delicious as an aperitif then went very well with our lightly spiced roast cauliflower and olive starter (not an easy one to match !)"
Mr Alex Heath (22-Jan-2019)
"I love this wine and it pairs beautifully with fish and most vegetarian food. "
Ms Joan Ransley (11-Jan-2019)
"My previous experience of gruner veltliner has not been very happy because of excess acidity, but I thought this was excellent. Not much on the nose, but lovely clean pear flavours and good balance. As mentioned previously, can be enjoyed without food."
Mr Colin Mitchell (30-Nov-2018)
Mr Gordon Allan (10-Nov-2018)
"This matches well to TWS description. I also get a slight hint of sherbet. Lovely colour in the glass, great balance and pleasing acidity which means it works well with food but it’s also very pleasant to drink on its own. Good value. "
Mr Bob White (04-Nov-2018)
"This is a delightful wine and i can highly recommend. Took it as "our" wine to a recent wine evening at a friend's and all agreed it would be perfect to have a bottle of this in the fridge to occasionally dip in to when you fancied a glass or two of an evening. My wife and I always include a couple of bottles of this in any of our Wine Society order and it never disappoints. At the price you cannot complain."
Mr Marcus De Guingand (03-Aug-2018)
"I finally got round to opening the Gruner last night. Very impressed with it. Quite a nice, subtle pineapple thing going on here. The merest hint of white pepper for me and then probably because I’m looking for it. Touch of sweetness (lack of definition if I’m being super picky?) but I’d buy it again without hesitation"
Mr Nicolas Pittman (27-Jul-2018)
"Delicious! Not especially acidic which surprised me - it's fuller than I thought it would be and it has a good fragrance. A viable alternative to SB if you're not keen on the extremes of that particular style. I enjoyed it very much and will definitely order some more."
Mr Gary Davison (13-Jul-2018)
"Very good example of the type. The only thing that stops me giving it 5 stars is that the price of this quality has crept up over the past year or two. At a pound less, it's a 5... But I guess I'm just going to have to get used to the fact inflation has returned (and the days of good wine at a fiver a bottle are long gone, sadly)."
Mr Johnny Holmes (31-May-2018)
"A very enjoyable refreshing wine"
Mr Anthony Witham (31-May-2018)
2017 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS
The Daily Telegraph (9th Mar 2019)
"50 best wines under
£10: Like vinous Badoit, this grüner veltliner has a slight spritz and mineral
trace, and dances along with a tinge of white peach, white pepper and pear. It
comes from the Stadt Krems winery in Kremstal. Incredibly refreshing, with a
lightness of touch. - Victoria Moore"
The Daily Mail (2nd Feb 2019)
"Demand has been
immense for this zesty, lip-smacking and vivacious grüner veltliner. I'm
thrilled to recommend it, especially as a companion to James [Martin]'s
caramelised onion, courgette and Wensleydale quiche. - Matthew Jukes"
2016 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"My first GV and very impressive it was to. Light and crisp. First few sips really had a wow factor
Tasted citrus and pepper. Light and crisp with a lovely round finish. Easy to drink on its own
Definite recommendation
"
Mr Tom Rodger (09-Mar-2018)
"I tried this in comparison to another Gruener Veltliner to Society offers, Pepp. In isolation, I quite enjoyed the "The Society's" version. It offered the typical spicy peppery character over plenty of fruit and was perfectly pleasant drinking. But I just felt it lacked the additional freshness and zing of Pepp. So it'll be the latter that I reorder."
Mr Jeremy Chancellor (19-Jan-2018)
"Found this wine dull and ordinary. Would not recommend it."
Mrs Rae Walker (11-Jan-2018)
"Very enjoyable. I drank it too long ago to leave tasting notes but would definitely buy again"
Mr Bob White (30-Nov-2017)
"This is a wonderfully fresh, crisp and 'tangy' tasting Gruner. I found it light but with plenty of pear and citrus on the nose yet delicate enough not to overpower. Even better when you dive in to have a first few sips.....really delicious, nice and rounded acidity with just enough fruit flavours. A definite choice to open with friends before a meal or with a light starter I'd say, or, better still, keep in the fridge if you fancy a glass of something very pleasant. Bravo WS, Bravo!"
Mr Glen Hayden (02-Nov-2017)
"Brilliant! Hits the spot."
Mr Tarquin Jones (15-Oct-2017)
"Very good. Dry but rounded with a excellent balance of fruit."
Mr Christopher Kerr-Smiley (09-Jun-2017)
2016 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS
Decanter (1st Nov 2017)
"Run by the local
municipality, the wines are getting better and better. This is a textbook
grüner veltliner with white pepper, peachy fruits and citrus notes. With
bright acidity, this is a refreshing palate cleanser and the perfect tipple to
have on standby in your fridge. - Christelle Guibert"
Yorkshire Post (13th May 2017)
"Classic in style,
with white pepper-dusted peachy fruit. A good summer wine to pair with anything
herby from salads to roast chicken. - Christine Austin"
JancisRobinson.com (10th May 2017)
"Rather plain nose,
with a hint of peanut as well as faint citrus. Recognisably European dry white,
but not especially typical as a Grüner. 16/20 Richard Hemming"
The Wine Gang (2nd May 2017)
"Another new vintage
of this zesty, spine-tinglingly crisp Austrian classic. Zesty, punchy with
sun-kissed grapefruit sourness and crunchy herbaceous ping, we try to avoid
clichés here at TWG HQ but this really is Spring in a glass. Boom, there, we've
said it. - The Wine Gang"
2015 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"quite nice actually, this was a nice dry Gruner, medium bodied with a very nice tropical fruit and honey character. Quite a lush treat, distinctly different to the usual summer BBQ fare of PG or SB. Definitely worth a glass with some Piri Piri chicken!"
Mr Stephen McGarry (17-Jun-2018)
"Loving it - fresh and just great as an aperitif."
Mr Giles Manners (22-Feb-2017)
"I found nothing to dislike here. Mostly apple and pear on the nose which continues in the mouth. There is a mild suggestion of dilute syrup from a tin of fruit cocktail in the taste and mouthfeel... but without the sugar hit! Then a grapefruit acidity gently asserts itself. The acidity of a modern grapefruit which, over the last thirty years has had the bitterness bred out. Which is a shame for lovers of tangy grapefruit but works fine here to balance all.
Not a stunner but certainly worth considering at this price with food and on its own."
Mr Geoffrey E Griffiths (07-Jan-2017)
"A new one for me. I found it very enjoyable, fruity, crisp clean flavour"
Dr David Rickeard (30-Aug-2016)
Mr Robert M Hill (11-Aug-2016)
"It does the job reasonably well and it's undeniably a Grüner, but it is a bit on the thin side. Not as great value as the Society's excellent Verdicchio, but it's crisp and appley and slightly less alcoholic, which is nice. Next time I will try the Exhibition Grüner, but at £7.50 a bottle one worries less about opening a bottle not to drink it all; that said, it's perfectly drinkable the following day.
I accidentally bought a case instead of a bottle, but I don't regret the (reasonably low-cost) error!"
Dr Matthew Badger (04-Aug-2016)
"I'm not familiar this this grape variety, so my comments are those of someone who is more familiar with sauvignon blanc and chardonnay. It is a pleasant wine with quite complex flavours, very easy to drink, and good value. But it lacks sufficient acidity to be really interesting. Even when very cold it doesn't really work as an aperitif wine. It works better with food (we had it with salade nicoise), but even then the lack of acidity means it isn't a great match. I wouldn't buy it again, as just a little more money can buy a really nice sauvignon blanc."
Mr John Purse (31-Jul-2016)
"Very light, easy drinking crisp white."
Mr William Baxter (24-Jul-2016)
"My first tasting of GV so far as I recall. Fresh, tasty,. As suggested on the label, a great fridge door standards, and it will be added to my list of good ordinary whites for everyday drinking."
Mr Tristan Ward (23-Jul-2016)
"A new wine for me. Very enjoyable, fruity, crisp and clean flavour."
Dr David Rickeard (26-Jun-2016)
"Pale lemon. Clean fruity nose, dominated by pear and white peach, bordering on artificial (much like a basic dry Welschriesling). Lively palate of ripe vineyard peach, pear and lime juice with crisp acidity. Medium finish with a pleasant, slightly bitter aftertaste of citrus peel. Good entry-level Grüner from a forgiving vintage - great garden wine!"
Mr Domen Presern (01-Jun-2016)
"Great example of Gruner Veltliner at a good price. Fresh vibrant fruit on the palate with a hint of spice and pepper. Highly recommended."
Mr Malcolm J Davies (27-May-2016)
"A very light representation of GV. All the characteristics of the wine are there but with diminished responsibility. I'd save up for the Exhibition GV, its the real deal. I suppose at this price i was just asking too much of the wine. My wife thought it was lovely, and polished it off. So maybe i'm just being a bit curmudgeonly."
Mr James Brown (10-May-2016)
"I enjoyed this and feel that this would be a safe bet with guests at a dinner party or gathering. Inoffensive without being boring, I really got the peach and pears although maybe not so much the spice. Another TWS own label winner."
Mr Kieran Hynes (04-May-2016)
"Can't fault this, but it ultimately left me unmoved. Will not buy it again"
Mr J B C Townsend (30-Apr-2016)
"This is a lovely, easy drinking wine. Pretty dry but safe to drink with or without food. Very impressed"
Dr Dyfrig M Davies (26-Apr-2016)
"Echo the first review. Excellent value and was the perfect choice for a lunch gathering. Bright and fresh and with the white pepper evident. Super!"
Mr John Canning (16-Mar-2016)
"Really good entry level gruner. Very fresh. zesty, and more than a hint of white pepper. Dangerously moreish."
Mr Paul Smith (08-Mar-2016)
2015 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS
The Daily Telegraph (26th Nov 2016)
"This wine pleases all
my friends (and there are a lot of them, and very picky they are too) who now
turn their noses up at sauvignon blanc, demand white wines that are not overtly
fruity, and like to drink picpoul. Made from Austria’s signature white grape,
it has a seltzery taste, like Badoit, and a hint of white pepper and the very
gentlest suggestion of white stone fruit. It’s delicious. - Victoria Moore"
yorkmix.com (30th Sep 2016)
"The Wine Society’s
own label wines often represent very good value ... made by Weingut Stadt Krems
in the Kremstal region of Austria. Fresh and very dry, it has flavours of pear
and citrus with characteristic white pepper notes, a hint of effervescence and
some minerality of course. - Mike Tipping"
Scotland on Sunday (31st Jul 2016)
"
This is
an absolutely typical sample of beautifully crafted gru-vee (as Americans
say) but at a great price. There is
firm grapefruit acidity, pear-based roundedness and mineral touches in
the background. Better still are its suggestions of apple blossom, pea
shoots, rocket salad and hints of tropical fruit.- Brian Elliott
"
JancisRobinson.com (26th Jul 2016)
"
More
salty and mineral than the Pepp (AA1851). Drier and with more tension on the
palate but more depth of fruit too. Better intensity and still more stony.
15.5/20
Julia Harding
"
Sheffield Profile (1st Jul 2016)
"
Something
a little different here from Austria. An alternative fridge door staple to
sauvignon blanc and pinot grigio. It's Austria's signature grape - think
Liebfraumilch but a bit more tangy.
"
Belfast Sunday Life (3rd Jul 2016)
"Deliciously crisp and dry with the characteristic pear aroma of the grape variety carrying through to the palate with peach and hints of spice for a fab aromatic and zingy white, easy top drink and a lovely alternative to sauvignon blanc. - Paula Gracey"
Suffolk Free Press (30th Jun 2016)
"'Classic' Grüner, jumping out of the glass - ripe apple, herbs and white pepper in the background. Dry, crisp, pear and yellow stone-fruit characteristics, fresh acidity. - Neil Courtier"
York Press (24th Jun 2016)
"
A
benchmark example of Austria’s Grüner Veltliner grape, from the historic
Weingut Stadt Krems in the Kremstal region, this is the first Society Grüner
to be made. The vineyards are run by the local municipality and for years
were considered old-fashioned, but now they have fresh blood at the helm
making modern style wines. This one displays the characteristic white pepper
and pear aroma and vibrant, fresh flavour of the Grüner and provides a
splendid alternative to staples like sauvignon blanc and pinot grigio.
- Peter Martini
"
The Times (25th Jun 2016)
"
Surprisingly,
the Wine Society has taken longer than most to offer an own-label grüner. Yet
it has been worth the wait because 2015 is a fine vintage, and has all the
sparky, white pepper, caraway and fresh green herby fruit you’d expect.
- Jane MacQuitty
"
Shropshire Star (13th Jun 2016)
"A benchmark example
of Austria's Grüner Veltliner grape Dry and crisp with plenty of peach and pear
flavours and touches of white pepper and spice - mouth-watering! - Sam Wylie Harris"
The Portsmouth News (11th Jun 2016)
"… not only great
value but it's also a cracking introduction to this suddenly very fashionable
grape variety. It is Austria's signature grape and can produce lovely crisp
summery white wines. It has lovely crisp pear and apple fruit with the classic
twist of spice and white pepper that the variety is known for. The finish is
crisp and dry. Drink with asparagus or smoked ham.- Alistair Gibson "
Kent & Sussex Courier (10th Jun 2016)
"Grüner Veltliner is
Austria's signature white grape variety with an amazing 14,900 ha share of
Austria's total 47,000 ha of vineyards. Peach, pear, white pepper, spice,
grapefruit pith and lemon zest are fused together in a slinky stream across the
long fresh palate, which certainly invites the second, and possibly third,
small glass. A refreshingly zesty choice for haddock, trout, grilled sardines,
seafood risotto, mildly spicy Thai/Indian/Vietnamese dishes, creamy cheeses,
Wiener schnitzel and green vegetables (even seasonal asparagus and artichokes).
Look no further for a terrific 'fridge door' summery white that's especially
recommended to jaded sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio drinkers. - James Viner"
The Daily Telegraph (4th Jun 2016)
"
Superb,
serious version of Austria’s signature grape – all white pepper and seltzer
with hidden lime and grapefruit zest and a distinct stony undertow. Clean and
bracing. One for picpoul drinkers to try.
- Victoria Moore
"
Liverpool Echo (27th May 2016)
"
My
better half arrived home after a 70-mile bike ride (I'd walked the dog to the
park - that's the fitness differential in our household) and I thrust a glass
of this in his hand. He's hard to please but he gave me these adjectives:
"Tasty, moreish, drinkable, smooth." I couldn't disagree. You might
not be able to pronounce it, but I bet you'd love this Grüner Veltliner. A
nose-dip revelas aromas of peach and pear flavours with a nudge of spice
which fizzles with the acidity to make your palate stand to attention. A wine
with lovely depth to savour. For a barbecue moment, enjoy with Thai-spiced
marinaded chicken - not too spicy, mind! - Jane Clare
"
Manchester Evening News (18th May 2016)
"
The
Wine Society's own label wines can represent great value and this particular
bottle, a new entry, is a great example. Weingut Stadt Krems is in Kremstal
not far from the renowned vineyards of the Wachau. It is run by the local
municipality and has brought in new winemakers to give the wines an update.
Wine Society buyer Sarah Knowles has brought in a real winner. This wine has
that distinctive white pepper nose and a rounded ripe palate of pear and
pineapple.- Andy Cronshaw
"
Plymouth Herald (29th Apr 2016)
"
Its
carefully crafted structure of pears and cherry stones forms a wine of
distinction. Different (aren't you always looking for something different?)
and adventurous - pair this with smoked salmon from Mike's Smokehouse in
Loddiswell and you'll be in heaven. Honest!
- Stephen Barrett
"
The Mail on Sunday (10th Apr 2016)
"
Groovy
Grüner: As bright and dazzling as a pear plugged into a lightbulb socket!
- Olly Smith
"
Sunday Express (27th Mar 2016)
"Lively and bright,
this Austrian white has some of the trademark white pepper that characterises
the grüner veltliner grape, alongside pure, vibrant pear and citrus fruit. - Jamie Goode"