Grüner Veltliner is a natural cross between Traminer and an obscure vine found in St. Georgen am Leithagebirge, Germany. This old vine, Grün Muskateller, has a unique DNA profile and is the only known survivor of this variety. Grüner Veltliner is the dominant grape in Austria with nearly a third of its vineyards devoted to it and the variety has a long history across the border in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Navarro’s 2020 Grüner Veltliner was produced from grapes grown at our neighbors, Valley Foothills Vineyard and is currently the only planting of this variety in Anderson Valley. The vines bore a light crop in 2020 consequently the fruit ripened in late August, earlier than normal. After destemming and pressing, we cold-settled the juice and a few days later racked it to a temperature-controlled German oak oval for fermentation and aging sur lie for seven months.
The wine is dry, medium-bodied and fruit driven with flavors suggesting peach; a "food" wine with crisp acidity. Only 144 cases were produced so this bottling will probably sell out upon release. Gold Medal winner.
