Join the PackGrapes A–Z
Wine UnderdogsWine Underdogs™
Join the Pack

Underdog Grape · Austria

Grüner Veltliner

Pronounced GROO-ner velt-LEE-ner

Grüner Veltliner is the crisp, high-acid white to reach for when Sauvignon Blanc starts to bore you — same zip, but with a twist of white pepper and a mineral spine no supermarket Sauvignon can match.

Tasting profile
Lime and green apple up front, a stony chill underneath, and a genuine grind of white pepper on the finish.
Where it grows
Wachau, Austria
Explore the Central Europe field guide
Where to buy
For specific bottles and where to buy them, read the deep dive.

Keep exploring

The region

Wachau, Austria

If you like

Sauvignon Blanc

Wines like Grüner Veltliner

NascettaBicalCatarrattoRobola

Grüner Veltliner: common questions

What wine is Grüner Veltliner similar to?
If you usually drink Sauvignon Blanc, Grüner Veltliner is the underdog swap to try. Other lesser-known grapes in the same style: Nascetta, Bical, Catarratto.
Read the deep diveGrüner Veltliner: The Crisp White That Grinds Its Own Pepper

JOIN THE PACK

Whatever you drink now, there's an underdog you'd like more.

One overlooked wine at a time: what it tastes like, the famous one it can replace, and the catch. Free.

Or peek at ten to start with →